UJobe 15
1 Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Ohlakaniphileyo angaphendula yini ulwazi olungumoya, agcwalise isisu sakhe ngomoya wempumalanga?
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3 Aphikise ngamazwi angasizi lutho, langenkulumo ezingelanzuzo yini?
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4 Yebo, wena uyachitha ukwesaba, uvimbela umkhuleko phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5 Ngoba umlomo wakho ufundisa ububi bakho, ukhethe ulimi lwamaqili.
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Umlomo wakho uyakulahla, kayisimi; yebo, indebe zakho ziyafakaza ngawe.
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7 Ungumuntu wokuqala owazalwayo yini? Kumbe wazalwa mandulo kwamaqaqa yini?
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Uzwile yini icebo langasese likaNkulunkulu? Kumbe uzigodlele inhlakanipho yini?
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9 Kuyini okwaziyo esingakwaziyo? Kuyini okuqedisisayo okungekho kithi?
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Kukhona phakathi kwethu lempunga lekhehla, omdala ngensuku kuloyihlo.
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11 Zincinyane yini kuwe induduzo zikaNkulunkulu, lelizwi elikhulunywa kuhle lawe?
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12 Kungani inhliziyo yakho ikumukisa? Njalo kungani amehlo akho ephayiza,
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 ukuthi uphendule umoya wakho umelane loNkulunkulu, ukhuphe amazwi anje emlonyeni wakho?
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14 Umuntu uyini ukuthi abe ngohlambulukileyo, lozelwe ngowesifazana ukuthi abe ngolungileyo?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Khangela, kathembeli kwabangcwele bakhe, lamazulu kawahlambulukanga emehlweni akhe.
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 Kukangakanani umuntu onengekayo lowonakeleyo, onatha ububi njengamanzi!
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17 Ngizakutshengisa, ungilalele, lengikubonileyo ngizakulandisa,
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18 lokho izihlakaniphi ezikukhulumileyo kusukela kuboyise, njalo kazikufihlanga,
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 okwanikwa kuzo zodwa ilizwe, lokungadlulanga izihambi phakathi kwazo.
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 Insuku zonke zokhohlakeleyo uzizwisa ubuhlungu, lenani leminyaka ebekelelwe umcindezeli.
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 Umsindo wezethuso usendlebeni zakhe; empumelelweni umchithi uzamfikela.
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 Kakholwa ukuthi uzaphenduka emnyameni, kodwa ukuthi ulindelwe yinkemba.
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23 Uzulela ukudla. Kungaphi? Uyazi ukuthi usuku lobumnyama lulungisiwe esandleni sakhe.
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Uhlupho losizi kuyamethusa, kumehlule njengenkosi elungele impi.
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25 Ngoba welule isandla sakhe emelene loNkulunkulu, wenza ngamandla ukumelana loSomandla.
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26 Wagijima emelene laye ngentamo, ngohlonzi lwamaqhubu ezihlangu zakhe.
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27 Ngoba wambomboza ubuso bakhe ngamafutha akhe, wenza ukhalo lwakhukhumala ngamafutha.
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28 Uhlala emizini echithekileyo, izindlu abangahlali kuzo, ezilungele ukuba zinqumbi.
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29 Kayikunotha, lenotho yakhe kayiyikuma, lenzuzo yakhe kayiyikusabalala emhlabeni.
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30 Kayikusuka emnyameni; ilangabi lizakomisa ihlumela lakhe, njalo uzasuka ngokuphefumula komoya wakhe.
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 Oduhisiweyo kangathembeli ezenini, ngoba ize lizakuba ngumvuzo wakhe.
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 Kuzafezwa kungakabi lusuku lwakhe, logatsha lwakhe aluyikuba luhlaza.
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33 Uzawohloza izithelo zakhe ezingavuthwanga njengevini, athintithe impoko zakhe njengesihlahla somhlwathi.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34 Ngoba inhlangano yabazenzisi izakuba ngengelazithelo, lomlilo uzaqothula amathente ezivalamlomo.
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 Bamitha uhlupho, bazale isono, lesizalo sabo silungisa inkohliso.
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
