UJobe 20
1 Wasephendula uZofari umNahama wathi:
Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
2 Ngakho imicabango yami ingenza ngiphendule, langenxa yokuphangisa kwami phakathi kwami.
I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.
3 Ngizwile isijeziso sehlazo lami, lomoya wokuqedisisa kwami ungenza ngiphendule.
I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 Uyakwazi lokhu yini, kusukela endulo, selokhu kwabekwa umuntu emhlabeni,
Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
5 ukuthi injabulo yababi imfitshane, lentokozo yomzenzisi ngeyesikhatshana nje?
But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
6 Loba ubukhosi bakhe busenyukela emazulwini, lekhanda lakhe lifinyelela emayezini,
although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
7 uzabhubha phakade njengobulongwe bakhe; labo abambonileyo bathi: Ungaphi?
For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
8 Uzaphapha njengephupho, bangabe besamthola; yebo, uzaxotshwa njengombono webusuku.
Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
9 Ilihlo elike lambona aliyikuphinda, lendawo yakhe kayisayikumbona.
The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
10 Abantwana bakhe bazadinga ukuthokozisa abayanga, lezandla zakhe zibuyisele inotho yakhe.
Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
11 Amathambo akhe ayegcwele ubutsha bakhe, kodwa azalala kanye laye enhlabathini.
His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 Uba ububi bumnandi emlonyeni wakhe, ebufihla ngaphansi kolimi lwakhe,
Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
13 ebugodla, engabuyekeli, kodwa ebugcina phakathi komlomo wakhe,
though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
14 ukudla kwakhe kuzaphenduka esiswini sakhe, kuzakuba yibuhlungu bezinyoka phakathi kwakhe.
yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
15 Uginye inotho, kodwa uzayihlanza; uNkulunkulu uzayikhupha esiswini sakhe.
[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
16 Uzamunya ubuhlungu bezinyoka, lolimi lwebululu luzambulala.
And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.
17 Kayikubona izifula, imifula, izifudlana zoluju lolaza.
Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
18 Uzabuyisela lokho akusebenzelayo, angakuginyi; njengokwenotho izakuba njalo inhlawulo, njalo kayikuthokoza.
He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.
19 Ngoba ubacindezele wabadela abayanga, waphanga indlu abengayakhanga.
For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
20 Ngoba kakwazi ukuthula esiswini sakhe, kayikusindisa lutho kusifiso sakhe.
There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
21 Kakuyikusala lutho ekudleni kwakhe; ngenxa yalokhu okuhle kwakhe kakuyikuma.
There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
22 Ekugcwaleni kokwanela kwakhe uzakuba lencindezelo; sonke isandla sohluphekayo sizamfikela.
But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
23 Kuzakuthi lapho egcwalisa isisu sakhe, uNkulunkulu athumele kuye ukuvutha kwentukuthelo yakhe, akunise phezu kwakhe ekudleni kwakhe.
If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
24 Uzabalekela isikhali sensimbi, idandili lethusi lizamhlaba.
And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
25 Uyalihwatsha, liphume emhlana, lokubenyezelayo kuzaphuma enyongweni yakhe; izesabiso ziphezu kwakhe.
And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
26 Ubumnyama bonke bugcinelwe izinto zakhe ezibekelelweyo; umlilo ongavuthelwayo uzamqeda; kuzakuba kubi kunsali ethenteni lakhe.
And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
27 Amazulu azakwembula ububi bakhe, lomhlaba umvukele.
And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
28 Ukwanda kwendlu yakhe kuzanyamalala, kukhukhulwe osukwini lwentukuthelo yakhe.
Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
29 Lesi yisabelo somuntu omubi esivela kuNkulunkulu, lelifa alimiselwa nguNkulunkulu.
This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
