< UJobe 1 >

1 Elizweni lase-Uzi kwakuhlala indoda eyayithiwa nguJobe. Indoda le yayingelasici, iqotho; yayimesaba uNkulunkulu njalo ikuxwaya okubi.
In the land of Uz lived a man whose name was Job. He was an upright and good man, fearing God and departing from evil.
2 Yayilamadodana ayisikhombisa lamadodakazi amathathu,
He had seven sons and three daughters.
3 ilezimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, amakamela azinkulungwane ezintathu, izipani zenkabi ezingamakhulu amahlanu labobabhemi abangamakhulu amahlanu, njalo ilezisebenzi ezinengi. Yayinothile kulabo bonke abantu beMpumalanga.
His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she-asses, and a great number of servants; so that he was the greatest of all the inhabitants of the East.
4 Amadodana akhe ayesenza amazopha okwenza amadili okuthakazelela amalanga okuzalwa kwawo ezindlini zawo, anxuse odadewabo bobathathu ukuzakudla anathe labo.
Now it was the custom of his sons to make a feast in their houses, each on his day, and to send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 Kwakusithi mhla idili liphela, uJobe wayewabiza azowahlambulula. Ekuseni kakhulu wayesenza umnikelo wokutshiswa wamunye ngamunye esithi, “Mhlawumbe abantwabami benzile isono bathuka uNkulunkulu ezinhliziyweni zabo.” Lo waba ngumkhuba wakhe uJobe.
And when the days of their feasting had gone round, Job used to send for them and sanctify them, and to rise up early in the morning and offer burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and have renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Ngelinye ilanga izingilosi zeza ukuzezethula phambi kukaThixo, loSathane weza lazo.
Now on a certain day the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them.
7 UThixo wathi kuSathane, “Uvela ngaphi?” USathane wamphendula uThixo wathi, “Ngivela ekuzulazuleni emhlabeni, ngihambahamba ngisiya le lale.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From wandering over the earth, and walking up and down in it.
8 UThixo wasesithi kuSathane, “Usuke wayinanzelela yini inceku yami uJobe? Kakho emhlabeni onjengaye; kalasici, uqondile, indoda emesabayo uNkulunkulu, exwaya okubi.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou observed my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, an upright and good man, fearing God and departing from evil?
9 USathane waphendula wathi, “Kambe uJobe umesaba kungelasizatho na uNkulunkulu?
Then Satan answered Jehovah, Is it for nought that Job feareth God?
10 Kawumbiyelanga ngothango yini yena lendlu yakhe, kanye lakho konke alakho? Uwubusisile umsebenzi wezandla zakhe kuze kuthi imihlambi yakhe yezimvu leyenkomo igcwale ilizwe lonke.
Hast thou not placed a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all his possessions? Thou hast prospered the work of his hands, and his herds are greatly increased in the land.
11 Kodwa ake welule isandla sakho uchithe konke alakho, uzabona uzakuthuka ebusweni bakho.”
But only put forth thy hand, and touch whatever he possesseth, and to thy face will he renounce thee.
12 UThixo wathi kuSathane, “Kulungile, konke alakho kusezandleni zakho, kodwa yena ngokwakhe ungamthinti.” USathane wasesuka phambi kukaThixo.
And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; but upon him lay not thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
13 Ngelinye ilanga amadodana kaJobe lamadodakazi akhe ayezitika ngokudla, enatha iwayini endlini yomnewabo omdala,
Now on a certain day the sons and daughters of Job were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 isithunywa safika kuJobe sathi, “Inkabi bezilima labobabhemi besidla eduze khonapho,
when a messenger came to Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,
15 kwafika amaSabhini ahlasela aqhuba konke ahamba. Izisebenzi azicakazile ngenkemba kwasala mina ngedwa engisindileyo ukuzakubikela!”
and the Sabaeans fell upon them, and took them away; the servants also they slew with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 Sisakhuluma esinye isithunywa safika sathi, “Umlilo kaNkulunkulu wehle uvela ezulwini wazitshisa izimvu lezisebenzi, kusele mina ngedwa engisindileyo ukuzakubikela!”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God hath fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 Elokhu esakhuluma kwafika esinye isithunywa sathi, “AmaKhaladiya abe ngamaqembu amathathu ehlela emakameleni akho awaqhuba ahamba lawo. Izisebenzi azicakazile ngenkemba kwasila mina ngedwa ukuzakubikela!”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldaeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and carried them away; the servants also they slew with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 Elokhu esakhuluma kwafika njalo esinye isithunywa sathi, “Amadodana lamadodakazi akho abesidla edilini enatha iwayini endlini yomnewabo omdala,
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;
19 kwathi masinyane vungu isavunguzane siqhamuka enkangala saphekula amagumbi womane endlu. Yathi mbo phezu kwabo bahle bafa, kwasila mina ngedwa ukuzakubikela!”
and, lo! there came a great wind from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Ekuzwa lokho uJobe wasukuma wadabula isembatho sakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe. Wazilahla phansi wakhonza
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;
21 wathi: “Ngaphuma ngize esiswini sikamama, njalo ngizasuka ngize. UThixo wapha njalo usethethe; kalidunyiswe ibizo likaThixo.”
and said, Naked came I forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!
22 Phakathi kwakho konke lokhu uJobe kazange enze isono ngokubeka umlandu wokuthi athi uNkulunkulu wonile.
In all this Job sinned not, nor uttered vain words against God.

< UJobe 1 >