UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken:
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much more shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth?
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom.
