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 assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? 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 confirmed the feeble knees.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
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 trouble, 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 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 are scattered abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
Now a thing 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, 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 appearance thereof; a form was before mine 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 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, which are crushed before the moth!
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: 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.
