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 essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can refrain 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 upheld 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 hath come upon 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 [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness 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 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 perisheth 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 small sound of it.
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 its form: 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, [who] 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?’”
Doth not their excellence [which is] in them depart? they die, even without wisdom.
