< UJobe 1 >

1 Kwakukhona indoda elizweni leUzi, ibizo layo lalinguJobe. Leyondoda yayiphelele-ke, iqondile, imesaba uNkulunkulu, ixwaya 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 Yasizalelwa amadodana ayisikhombisa lamadodakazi amathathu.
He had seven sons and three daughters.
3 Lemfuyo yayo yayiyizimvu eziyizinkulungwane eziyisikhombisa, lamakamela ayizinkulungwane ezintathu, lezipane zenkabi ezingamakhulu amahlanu, labobabhemi abasikazi abangamakhulu amahlanu, lenceku ezinengi kakhulu. Ngakho lowomuntu wayemkhulu okwedlula 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 Njalo amadodana akhe ahamba enza idili endlini yaleyo laleyo ngosuku lwayo; athuma abiza odadewabo abathathu ukuze badle banathe lawo.
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 lapho esephelile amazopha ensuku zedili, uJobe athume, awangcwelise, avuke ekuseni kakhulu, anikele iminikelo yokutshiswa ngokwenani lawo wonke, ngoba uJobe wathi: Mhlawumbe amadodana ami onile, amthuka uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yawo. Wenza njalo uJobe zonke izinsuku.
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 Kwasekusiba losuku lapho amadodana kaNkulunkulu eza ukuzimisa phambi kweNkosi, loSathane laye wafika phakathi kwawo.
Now on a certain day the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, and Satan also came among them.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Uvela ngaphi? USathane wasephendula iNkosi wathi: Ekuzulazuleni emhlabeni lekuhambahambeni kuwo.
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 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Ubekile yini inhliziyo yakho encekwini yami uJobe, ngoba kakho onjengayo emhlabeni, umuntu opheleleyo loqondileyo, owesaba uNkulunkulu loxwaya ububi?
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 wasephendula iNkosi wathi: UJobe umesabela ize uNkulunkulu yini?
Then Satan answered Jehovah, Is it for nought that Job feareth God?
10 Kawumbiyelanga yini yena lendlu yakhe lakho konke alakho inhlangothi zonke? Ubusisile umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, lezifuyo zakhe zanda kakhulu elizweni.
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 isibili yelula isandla sakho khathesi, uthinte konke alakho; sibili uzakuthuka ebusweni bakho.
But only put forth thy hand, and touch whatever he possesseth, and to thy face will he renounce thee.
12 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Khangela konke alakho kusesandleni sakho; kuphela kuye ungeluleli isandla sakho. Wasephuma uSathane phambi kweNkosi.
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 Kwasekusiba losuku lapho amadodana lamadodakazi akhe ayesidla enatha iwayini endlini yomfowabo olizibulo.
Now on a certain day the sons and daughters of Job were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 Kwasekufika isithunywa kuJobe sathi: Inkabi bezilima labobabhemi besidla emaceleni azo;
when a messenger came to Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,
15 kwasekutheleka amaShebha, akuthatha, atshaya izinceku ngobukhali benkemba, njalo yimi ngedwa kuphela engiphephileyo ukuze ngikubikele.
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 Lesi sisakhuluma, kwafika lesinye, sathi: Umlilo kaNkulunkulu uwile uvela emazulwini, watshisa izimvu lezinceku, waziqeda; njalo yimi ngedwa kuphela engiphephileyo ukuze ngikubikele.
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 Lesi sisakhuluma, kwafika lesinye, sathi: AmaKhaladiya amise amaxuku amathathu atheleka phezu kwamakamela, awathatha, atshaya izinceku ngobukhali benkemba, njalo yimi ngedwa kuphela engiphephileyo ukuze ngikubikele.
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 Lesi sisakhuluma, kwafika lesinye, sathi: Amadodana akho lamadodakazi akho bebesidla benatha iwayini endlini yomfowabo, izibulo.
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 Khangela-ke, umoya omkhulu wafika uvela ngaphetsheya kwenkangala, watshaya amagumbi womane endlu, yawela phezu kwamajaha, afa; njalo yimi ngedwa kuphela engiphephileyo ukuze ngikubikele.
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 UJobe wasesukuma, wadabula ibhatshi lakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wawa emhlabathini, wakhonza;
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;
21 wasesithi: Ngaphuma ngize esiswini sikamama, njalo ngizabuyela khona ngize; iNkosi yapha, iNkosi ithethe; kalibusiswe ibizo leNkosi.
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 Kukho konke lokhu uJobe konanga, kambalelanga ubuwula uNkulunkulu.
In all this Job sinned not, nor uttered vain words against God.

< UJobe 1 >