UJobe 15
1 Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 Ohlakaniphileyo angaphendula yini ulwazi olungumoya, agcwalise isisu sakhe ngomoya wempumalanga?
Should, a wise man, answer unreal knowledge? or fill, with the east wind, his inner man?
3 Aphikise ngamazwi angasizi lutho, langenkulumo ezingelanzuzo yini?
Disputing with discourse that doth no good, or with speech, wherein is no profit?
4 Yebo, wena uyachitha ukwesaba, uvimbela umkhuleko phambi kukaNkulunkulu.
But, thou, wouldst take away reverence, and wouldst attain unto meditation before GOD.
5 Ngoba umlomo wakho ufundisa ububi bakho, ukhethe ulimi lwamaqili.
For thine own mouth would teach thine iniquity, and thou wouldst choose the tongue of the crafty.
6 Umlomo wakho uyakulahla, kayisimi; yebo, indebe zakho ziyafakaza ngawe.
Thine own mouth shall condemn thee, and, not I, And, thine own lips, shall testify against thee.
7 Ungumuntu wokuqala owazalwayo yini? Kumbe wazalwa mandulo kwamaqaqa yini?
The first of mankind, wast thou born? Or, before the hills, wast thou brought forth?
8 Uzwile yini icebo langasese likaNkulunkulu? Kumbe uzigodlele inhlakanipho yini?
In the secret council of GOD, hast thou been wont to hearken? Or canst thou attain for thyself unto wisdom?
9 Kuyini okwaziyo esingakwaziyo? Kuyini okuqedisisayo okungekho kithi?
What knowest thou, that we know not? [What] understandest thou, and the same, is not with us?
10 Kukhona phakathi kwethu lempunga lekhehla, omdala ngensuku kuloyihlo.
Both hoary and venerable, are among us, one mightier than thy father in days!
11 Zincinyane yini kuwe induduzo zikaNkulunkulu, lelizwi elikhulunywa kuhle lawe?
Too small for thee, are the consolations of GOD? or a word spoken gently with thee?
12 Kungani inhliziyo yakho ikumukisa? Njalo kungani amehlo akho ephayiza,
How doth thine own heart carry thee away, and how thine eyes do roll!
13 ukuthi uphendule umoya wakho umelane loNkulunkulu, ukhuphe amazwi anje emlonyeni wakho?
For thy spirit, replieth against GOD, and thou bringest forth—out of thy mouth—words!
14 Umuntu uyini ukuthi abe ngohlambulukileyo, lozelwe ngowesifazana ukuthi abe ngolungileyo?
What is a mortal, that he should be pure? or that righteous should be one born of a woman?
15 Khangela, kathembeli kwabangcwele bakhe, lamazulu kawahlambulukanga emehlweni akhe.
Lo! in his holy ones, he putteth not confidence, and, the heavens, are not pure in his eyes:
16 Kukangakanani umuntu onengekayo lowonakeleyo, onatha ububi njengamanzi!
How much less when one is detested and corrupt, a man who drinketh in—like water—perversity.
17 Ngizakutshengisa, ungilalele, lengikubonileyo ngizakulandisa,
I will tell thee—hear me, Since this I have seen, I must needs declare it.
18 lokho izihlakaniphi ezikukhulumileyo kusukela kuboyise, njalo kazikufihlanga,
Which, wise men, tell, and deny not [that which is] from their fathers.
19 okwanikwa kuzo zodwa ilizwe, lokungadlulanga izihambi phakathi kwazo.
To them alone, was the earth given, and no alien passed through their midst:
20 Insuku zonke zokhohlakeleyo uzizwisa ubuhlungu, lenani leminyaka ebekelelwe umcindezeli.
All the days of the lawless man, he, doth writhe with pain, and, the number of years, is hidden from the tyrant;
21 Umsindo wezethuso usendlebeni zakhe; empumelelweni umchithi uzamfikela.
A noise of dreadful things, is in his ears, In prosperity, the destroyer cometh upon him;
22 Kakholwa ukuthi uzaphenduka emnyameni, kodwa ukuthi ulindelwe yinkemba.
He hath no confidence to come back out of darkness, he, being destined to the power oft the sword;
23 Uzulela ukudla. Kungaphi? Uyazi ukuthi usuku lobumnyama lulungisiwe esandleni sakhe.
A wanderer, he, for bread, [saying] Where [is it]? He knoweth that, prepared by his own hand, is the day of darkness;
24 Uhlupho losizi kuyamethusa, kumehlule njengenkosi elungele impi.
Distress and anguish shall startle him, It shall overpower him, like a king ready for the onset:
25 Ngoba welule isandla sakhe emelene loNkulunkulu, wenza ngamandla ukumelana loSomandla.
Because he had stretched out—against GOD—his hand, and, against the Almighty, had been wont to behave himself proudly;
26 Wagijima emelene laye ngentamo, ngohlonzi lwamaqhubu ezihlangu zakhe.
He used to run against him with uplifted neck, with the stout bosses of his bucklers;
27 Ngoba wambomboza ubuso bakhe ngamafutha akhe, wenza ukhalo lwakhukhumala ngamafutha.
For he had covered his face with his fatness, and had gathered a superabundance on his loins;
28 Uhlala emizini echithekileyo, izindlu abangahlali kuzo, ezilungele ukuba zinqumbi.
And had inhabited demolished cities, houses, wherein men would not dwell, that were destined to become heaps.
29 Kayikunotha, lenotho yakhe kayiyikuma, lenzuzo yakhe kayiyikusabalala emhlabeni.
He shall not be rich, nor shall his substance continue, neither shall their shadow stretch along on the earth;
30 Kayikusuka emnyameni; ilangabi lizakomisa ihlumela lakhe, njalo uzasuka ngokuphefumula komoya wakhe.
He shall not depart out of darkness, his young branch, shall the flame dry up, and he shall depart, by the breath of his own mouth!
31 Oduhisiweyo kangathembeli ezenini, ngoba ize lizakuba ngumvuzo wakhe.
Let no one trust in him that—by vanity—is deceived, for, vanity, shall be his recompense;
32 Kuzafezwa kungakabi lusuku lwakhe, logatsha lwakhe aluyikuba luhlaza.
Before his day, shall it be accomplished, with, his palm-top, not covered with leaves;
33 Uzawohloza izithelo zakhe ezingavuthwanga njengevini, athintithe impoko zakhe njengesihlahla somhlwathi.
He shall wrong—like a vine—his sour grapes, and shall cast off—as an olive-tree—his blossom.
34 Ngoba inhlangano yabazenzisi izakuba ngengelazithelo, lomlilo uzaqothula amathente ezivalamlomo.
For, the family of the impious, is unfruitful, and, a fire, hath devoured the tents of bribery;
35 Bamitha uhlupho, bazale isono, lesizalo sabo silungisa inkohliso.
Conceiving mischief, and bringing forth iniquity, yea, their inmost soul, prepareth deceit.
