UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to 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 righteous destroyed?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
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 perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body 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 recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, in his servants he putteth no trust, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
