UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If we assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Your words have upheld him that was falling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it is come on you, and you faint; it touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is not this your fear, your confidence, your hope, and the uprightness of your ways?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Remember, I pray you, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
The roaring 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 perishes for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a little thereof.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
Then 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, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Does not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
