UJobe 6
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then Job responded:
2 “Nxa ubuhlungu bami bungalinganiswa lokuhlupheka kwami konke kufakwe esikalini!
“If my grief could be weighed and my troubles placed on the scales
3 Ngempela bungasinda ukwedlula itshebetshebe yolwandle, akungamangalisi ukuthi amazwi ami abhede kanje.
they would be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why I spoke so rashly.
4 Imitshoko kaSomandla iphakathi kwami, umoya wami unatha itshefu yayo; inhlupho zokuhlukuluza zikaNkulunkulu ziqondiswe kimi.
For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; their poison saps my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.
5 Kambe ubabhemi weganga uyakhala yini utshani bukhona, loba inkabi ikhonye yona ukudla ilakho?
Don't wild donkeys bray when their grass is gone? Don't cattle groan when they don't have food!
6 Ukudla okuduma kuyadleka na kungelatswayi, kumbe okumhlophe kweqanda kuyanambitheka yini?
Can something that's tasteless be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 Ngiyala ukukuthinta; ukudla okunjalo kubuyisa inhliziyo yami.
I just can't touch any food—even the thought makes me feel sick!
8 Oh, aluba ngingazuza isicelo sami, uNkulunkulu angiphe lokho engikufisayo,
Oh, if only I could have what I really want, that God would give me what I most desire—
9 ukuthi uNkulunkulu avume ukungichoboza, ekele nje isandla sakhe singiqede!
that God would be willing to crush me to death, that he would just let me die!
10 Lalapho ngizabe ngilokhu ngilale induduzo intokozo yami ebuhlungwini obungadediyo, ukuthi bengingawaphikanga amazwi akhe oNgcwele.
But it still comforts me to know, making me happy through the never-ending pain, that I have never rejected the words of God.
11 Ngilamandla bani okuthi ngibe lokhu ngithemba? Ngisamelelwe yini ukuba ngibe ngilokhu ngibekezela?
Why should I go on waiting when I don't have the strength? Why should I keep going when I don't know what is going to happen to me?
12 Ngilamandla elitshe yini? Inyama yami ilithusi na?
Am I as strong as rock? Am I made out of bronze?
13 Ngilawo yini amandla okuzisiza, manje njengoba sengemukwe impumelelo?
How can I help myself now that any chance of success is ripped away from me?
14 Iloba ngubani ogodla umusa kumkhula wakhe udela ukwesaba uSomandla.
Anyone who isn't kind to a friend has given up respecting the Almighty.
15 Kodwa abafowethu kabathenjwa njengemifula egeleza icitsha, njengemifula echithayo
My brothers have acted as deceptively as a desert stream, rushing waters in the desert that vanish.
16 ileliqhwa eselincibilika, njalo igcwele ngongqwaqwane osencibilikile,
The stream floods when it is full of dark ice and melting snow,
17 kodwa ikhawule ukugeleza ngesikhathi sokoma, kuthi sekutshisa amanzi anyamalale ezindleleni zawo.
but in the heat it dries up and disappears, vanishing from where it once was.
18 Indwendwe zamakamela ziyaphambuka ezindleleni zazo; zintule enkangala zifele khona.
Camel caravans turn aside to look for water, but don't find any and they die.
19 Indwendwe zamakamela aseThema zidinga amanzi, abathengisi baseShebha balinde bethembile.
Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,
20 Bayadana ngoba bebekade bethembile; bayafika khonale bafike badane.
but their hopes were dashed—they came and found nothing.
21 Lani selitshengise ukuthi kalilancedo; libona into eyesabekayo beselisesaba.
Now you are no help, just like that—you see my trouble and you're afraid.
22 Sengake ngatsho yini ukuthi, ‘Ake lingihlawulele lokhu, ngihlengani ngempahla yenu,
Have I asked you for anything? Have I told you to bribe anyone for me from your wealth?
23 ngikhululani esandleni sesitha, ngihlengani ekufithizelweni ngabalesihluku’?
Have I asked you to rescue me from an enemy? Have I told you to save me from my oppressors?
24 Ngifundisani, ngizathula; ake lingitshengise lapho engiphambanise khona.
Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.
25 Abuhlungu kanganani amazwi eqiniso! Kodwa ukuphikisa kwenu kutshengisani?
Honest words are painful, but what do your arguments prove?
26 Lizama ukuqondisa engikutshoyo, amazwi omuntu oselahlekelwe lithemba liwathethe njengomoya nje na?
Are you going to argue over what I said, when the words of someone in despair should be left to blow away in the wind?
27 Lina lingenza inkatho ngezintandane, lithengise lomngane wenu.
You would play dice to win an orphan; you would bargain away your friend!
28 Kodwa okwamanje wobani lomusa lingizwele. Ngingaqamba amanga phambi kwenu na?
Look me in the eye and see if I'm lying to your face!
29 Dedani, lingenzi okungaqondanga; khumbulani kutsha, phela ubuqotho bami busengozini.
Don't talk like this! Don't be unjust! What I'm saying is right.
30 Kukhona okubi na okusezindebeni zami? Kambe umlomo wami kawukwehlukanisi okubi na?”
I'm not telling lies—don't you think I wouldn't know if I was wrong?”
