< UJobe 1 >

1 Kwakukhona indoda elizweni leUzi, ibizo layo lalinguJobe. Leyondoda yayiphelele-ke, iqondile, imesaba uNkulunkulu, ixwaya okubi.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil.
2 Yasizalelwa amadodana ayisikhombisa lamadodakazi amathathu.
There were born to him 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.
He possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred donkeys and a great many servants. He was the man who was the greatest of all the people of the East.
4 Njalo amadodana akhe ahamba enza idili endlini yaleyo laleyo ngosuku lwayo; athuma abiza odadewabo abathathu ukuze badle banathe lawo.
On each son's assigned day, he would give a feast in his house. They would send and call for their three sisters to eat and 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.
When the days of the feast were over, Job would send for them and he would consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings for each of his children, for he would say, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job always did this.
6 Kwasekusiba losuku lapho amadodana kaNkulunkulu eza ukuzimisa phambi kweNkosi, loSathane laye wafika phakathi kwawo.
Then it was the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh. Satan also came with them.
7 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Uvela ngaphi? USathane wasephendula iNkosi wathi: Ekuzulazuleni emhlabeni lekuhambahambeni kuwo.
Yahweh said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “From wandering on the earth, from going back and forth on it.”
8 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Ubekile yini inhliziyo yakho encekwini yami uJobe, ngoba kakho onjengayo emhlabeni, umuntu opheleleyo loqondileyo, owesaba uNkulunkulu loxwaya ububi?
Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns from evil.”
9 USathane wasephendula iNkosi wathi: UJobe umesabela ize uNkulunkulu yini?
Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, “Does Job fear God without reason?
10 Kawumbiyelanga yini yena lendlu yakhe lakho konke alakho inhlangothi zonke? Ubusisile umsebenzi wezandla zakhe, lezifuyo zakhe zanda kakhulu elizweni.
Have you not put a barrier around him, around his house, and around all that is his from every side? You have blessed the deeds of his hands, and his cattle have burst forth in the land.
11 Kodwa isibili yelula isandla sakho khathesi, uthinte konke alakho; sibili uzakuthuka ebusweni bakho.
But now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and see if he does not curse you to your face.”
12 INkosi yasisithi kuSathane: Khangela konke alakho kusesandleni sakho; kuphela kuye ungeluleli isandla sakho. Wasephuma uSathane phambi kweNkosi.
Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him himself do not stretch out your hand.” Then Satan went away from the presence of Yahweh.
13 Kwasekusiba losuku lapho amadodana lamadodakazi akhe ayesidla enatha iwayini endlini yomfowabo olizibulo.
It came about that on a certain day, his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
14 Kwasekufika isithunywa kuJobe sathi: Inkabi bezilima labobabhemi besidla emaceleni azo;
A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them.
15 kwasekutheleka amaShebha, akuthatha, atshaya izinceku ngobukhali benkemba, njalo yimi ngedwa kuphela engiphephileyo ukuze ngikubikele.
Then the Sabeans fell on them and took them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three groups, attacked the camels, and have taken them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
18 Lesi sisakhuluma, kwafika lesinye, sathi: Amadodana akho lamadodakazi akho bebesidla benatha iwayini endlini yomfowabo, izibulo.
While he was yet speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest 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.
A strong wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they died. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 UJobe wasesukuma, wadabula ibhatshi lakhe, waphuca ikhanda lakhe, wawa emhlabathini, wakhonza;
Then Job rose, tore his robe, shaved his head, lay facedown on the ground, and worshiped God.
21 wasesithi: Ngaphuma ngize esiswini sikamama, njalo ngizabuyela khona ngize; iNkosi yapha, iNkosi ithethe; kalibusiswe ibizo leNkosi.
He said, “I was naked when I came out of my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I will return there. It is Yahweh who gave, and it is Yahweh who has taken away. May the name of Yahweh be blessed.”
22 Kukho konke lokhu uJobe konanga, kambalelanga ubuwula uNkulunkulu.
In all this matter, Job did not sin, nor did he accuse God of wrongdoing.

< UJobe 1 >