UJobe 15
1 Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 Ohlakaniphileyo angaphendula yini ulwazi olungumoya, agcwalise isisu sakhe ngomoya wempumalanga?
“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
3 Aphikise ngamazwi angasizi lutho, langenkulumo ezingelanzuzo yini?
He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
4 Yebo, wena uyachitha ukwesaba, uvimbela umkhuleko phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
5 Ngoba umlomo wakho ufundisa ububi bakho, ukhethe ulimi lwamaqili.
It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
6 Umlomo wakho uyakulahla, kayisimi; yebo, indebe zakho ziyafakaza ngawe.
Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
7 Ungumuntu wokuqala owazalwayo yini? Kumbe wazalwa mandulo kwamaqaqa yini?
Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
8 Uzwile yini icebo langasese likaNkulunkulu? Kumbe uzigodlele inhlakanipho yini?
Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
9 Kuyini okwaziyo esingakwaziyo? Kuyini okuqedisisayo okungekho kithi?
What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
10 Kukhona phakathi kwethu lempunga lekhehla, omdala ngensuku kuloyihlo.
We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
11 Zincinyane yini kuwe induduzo zikaNkulunkulu, lelizwi elikhulunywa kuhle lawe?
Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
12 Kungani inhliziyo yakho ikumukisa? Njalo kungani amehlo akho ephayiza,
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 ukuthi uphendule umoya wakho umelane loNkulunkulu, ukhuphe amazwi anje emlonyeni wakho?
Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
14 Umuntu uyini ukuthi abe ngohlambulukileyo, lozelwe ngowesifazana ukuthi abe ngolungileyo?
Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
15 Khangela, kathembeli kwabangcwele bakhe, lamazulu kawahlambulukanga emehlweni akhe.
Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
16 Kukangakanani umuntu onengekayo lowonakeleyo, onatha ububi njengamanzi!
How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
17 Ngizakutshengisa, ungilalele, lengikubonileyo ngizakulandisa,
If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
18 lokho izihlakaniphi ezikukhulumileyo kusukela kuboyise, njalo kazikufihlanga,
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
19 okwanikwa kuzo zodwa ilizwe, lokungadlulanga izihambi phakathi kwazo.
those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
20 Insuku zonke zokhohlakeleyo uzizwisa ubuhlungu, lenani leminyaka ebekelelwe umcindezeli.
The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
21 Umsindo wezethuso usendlebeni zakhe; empumelelweni umchithi uzamfikela.
Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
22 Kakholwa ukuthi uzaphenduka emnyameni, kodwa ukuthi ulindelwe yinkemba.
They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
23 Uzulela ukudla. Kungaphi? Uyazi ukuthi usuku lobumnyama lulungisiwe esandleni sakhe.
They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
24 Uhlupho losizi kuyamethusa, kumehlule njengenkosi elungele impi.
Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
25 Ngoba welule isandla sakhe emelene loNkulunkulu, wenza ngamandla ukumelana loSomandla.
They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
26 Wagijima emelene laye ngentamo, ngohlonzi lwamaqhubu ezihlangu zakhe.
insolently attacking him with their shields.
27 Ngoba wambomboza ubuso bakhe ngamafutha akhe, wenza ukhalo lwakhukhumala ngamafutha.
They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
28 Uhlala emizini echithekileyo, izindlu abangahlali kuzo, ezilungele ukuba zinqumbi.
But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
29 Kayikunotha, lenotho yakhe kayiyikuma, lenzuzo yakhe kayiyikusabalala emhlabeni.
They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.
30 Kayikusuka emnyameni; ilangabi lizakomisa ihlumela lakhe, njalo uzasuka ngokuphefumula komoya wakhe.
They will not escape from the darkness. Like a tree whose shoots are burned up in a forest fire, the breath of God will blow him away.
31 Oduhisiweyo kangathembeli ezenini, ngoba ize lizakuba ngumvuzo wakhe.
They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
32 Kuzafezwa kungakabi lusuku lwakhe, logatsha lwakhe aluyikuba luhlaza.
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 Uzawohloza izithelo zakhe ezingavuthwanga njengevini, athintithe impoko zakhe njengesihlahla somhlwathi.
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 Ngoba inhlangano yabazenzisi izakuba ngengelazithelo, lomlilo uzaqothula amathente ezivalamlomo.
For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
35 Bamitha uhlupho, bazale isono, lesizalo sabo silungisa inkohliso.
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
