UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
