< UJobe 16 >

1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
But Job answered and said,
2 Ngizwile izinto ezinengi ezinje; lingabaduduzi abakhathazayo lina lonke.
I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.
3 Kuzakuba lesiphetho yini emazwini angumoya? Kumbe kuyini okulicunulayo ukuthi liphendule?
What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?
4 Lami bengingakhuluma njengani uba umphefumulo wenu ubusendaweni yomphefumulo wami; bengingabuthelela amazwi phezu kwenu, ngilinikinele ikhanda lami.
I also will speak as you [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.
5 Bengingaliqinisa ngomlomo wami, lokunyikinyeka kwendebe zami bekungadedisaubuhlungu benu.
And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
6 Uba ngikhuluma, ubuhlungu bami kabudedi; uba ngiyekela, kuyini okusuka kimi?
For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
7 Kodwa khathesi ungidinisile yena, wena uchithile yonke inhlangano yami.
But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.
8 Ungitshwabhanisile, kube yibufakazi, lokucaka kwami kungivukele, kuyafakaza ebusweni bami.
My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
9 Ulaka lwakhe luyangidwengula, njalo uyangizonda; ungigedlela amazinyo akhe; isitha sami singicijisela amehlo aso.
In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
10 Bangikhamisela umlomo wabo, bangiwakala esihlathini ngokuyangisa, bengihlanganyela ndawonye.
He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
11 UNkulunkulu unginikele kokhohlakeleyo, wangiphosela ezandleni zababi.
For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
12 Ngangonwabile, kodwa wangichoboza, wangidumela ngentamo, wangiphahlaza, wangimisa ngaba yinto yakhe yokunenjwa.
When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.
13 Abatshoki bakhe bangigombolozela; uqhekeze izinso zami, engayekeli, wachithela emhlabathini inyongo yami.
They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.
14 Wangivodloza ngokuvodlovodloza, wagijimela kimi njengeqhawe.
They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
15 Ngathunga isaka phezu kwesikhumba sami, ngathukuza uphondo lwami othulini.
They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
16 Ubuso bami bubomvu ngokukhala, lenkotsheni zami kulethunzi lokufa,
My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
17 lanxa kungekho isihluku ezandleni zami, lomkhuleko wami uhlanzekile.
Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Mhlaba, ungaligqibeli igazi lami, lokukhala kwami kakungabi landawo.
Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
19 Lakhathesi, khangelani, ubufakazi bami busemazulwini, lomfakazi wami usezindaweni eziphakemeyo.
And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 Abangane bami bayangiklolodela; ilihlo lami liyathonta kuNkulunkulu.
Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
21 Kungathi kungaba khona ongamlamulela umuntu kuNkulunkulu, njengendodana yomuntu kumngane wayo.
Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!
22 Ngoba iminyaka emilutshwana izafika, njalo ngizahamba ngendlela engingayikubuya ngayo.
But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.

< UJobe 16 >