UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself 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 falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity 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 where were the upright cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
According as I have seen, they that plow 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 anger are they consumed.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet 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 abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, He putteth no trust in 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 before the moth!
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
