UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
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 have the righteous been cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, 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 they are 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 fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
A fear and a horror came upon me, 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 rose on end;
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
“Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
