UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
