UJobe 5
1 “Memeza nxa uthanda, kodwa ngubani ozakuphendula na? Uzaphendukela kuwuphi wabangcwele na?
“Call out if you please, but who will answer? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Ukucaphuka kuyasibulala isiwula lomhawu uyamqeda oyisithutha.
For resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
3 Mina ngokwami sengasibona isiwula siphumelela, kodwa masinyane nje indlu yaso yayisiqalekisiwe.
I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
4 Abantwabaso kabavikelekanga lakancinyane, baphoselwa entolongweni bengelamvikeli.
His sons are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
5 Abalambileyo bayazidlela isivuno sakhe, besithatha kanye lasemeveni, labomileyo bahahabela inotho yakhe.
The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from the thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 Ngoba ubunzima kabugobhozi emhlabathini, loba uhlupho luhlume phansi.
For distress does not spring from the dust, and trouble does not sprout from the ground.
7 Kodwa umuntu uzalelwa ukuhlupheka njengoba ngeqiniso inhlansi zomlilo ziqhatshela phezulu.
Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
8 Kodwa aluba ubuyimi, bengizamncenga uNkulunkulu; bengizakwethula udubo lwami kuye.
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—
9 Uyazenza izimanga ezingelakulinganiswa, imimangaliso engelakubalwa.
the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.
10 Uyanisa izulu emhlabeni; uthumela amanzi elizweni.
He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields.
11 Abaphansi uyabakhweza phezulu, lalabo abakhalayo ubaphakamisela ekuphepheni.
He sets the lowly on high, so that mourners are lifted to safety.
12 Uyawafubisa amacebo amaqili, ukuze izandla zawo zingaphumeleli.
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
13 Uyababamba abahlakaniphileyo ebuqilini babo, kuthi amaqhinga eziphoxo achitheke.
He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
14 Ubumnyama buyabehlela emini; phakathi kwemini bayaphumputha kungathi kusebusuku.
They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.
15 Uyabasindisa abaswelayo baphephe inkemba emlonyeni wabo; uyabasindisa ekubanjweni ngabalamandla.
He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth and from the clutches of the powerful.
16 Ngakho abayanga balalo ithemba, ukwahlulela kubi kuvala owakho umlomo.
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 Ubusisiwe umuntu oqondiswa nguNkulunkulu; ngakho ungaseyisi isijeziso sikaSomandla.
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 Ngoba uyagwaza, kodwa aphinde abophe amanxeba; uyalimaza kodwa izandla zakhe njalo ziyapholisa.
For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
19 Uzakuhlenga ezinhluphekweni eziyisithupha; kweziyisikhombisa kawuyikuwelwa yingozi.
He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
20 Ngesikhathi sendlala uzakuhlenga ekufeni, lasempini akuhlenge ekugaleleni kwenkemba.
In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
21 Uzavikelwa ekuhletshweni, ungaze wesaba nxa kufika incithakalo.
You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.
22 Uzakuhleka ukuchithakala kanye lendlala, njalo ungaze wazesaba izilo zomhlaba.
You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the beasts of the earth.
23 Ngoba uzakuba lesivumelwano lamatshe eganga, lezinyamazana zeganga zizahlalisana kuhle lawe.
For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.
24 Uzakwazi ukuthi ithente lakho livikelekile; uzahlolisisa impahla yakho uthole kungelalutho olungekho.
You will know that your tent is secure, and find nothing amiss when inspecting your home.
25 Uzakwazi ukuthi abantwabakho bazakuba banengi, lesizukulwane sakho sibe ngangotshani bomhlaba.
You will know that your offspring will be many, your descendants like the grass of the earth.
26 Uzakuza engcwabeni usukhulile okugcweleyo njengezikhwebu zamabele eziqoqwa seziphelele.
You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.
27 Sesikuhlolile lokhu, kuliqiniso. Ngakho kuzwisise, ukulandele wena ngokwakho.”
Indeed, we have investigated, and it is true! So hear it and know for yourself.”
