UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like the moth?
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.
