UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
“If someone ventures to talk 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, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But now it has come to 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?
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
“Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
According to what I have seen, those who plough iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
By the breath of God they perish. 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, 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. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
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 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 couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much more those who 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.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
