UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
And Job answered and said,
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Mina-ke ukusola kwami kusemuntwini yini? Kodwa uba kunjalo, kungani umoya wami ungekhathazeke?
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Inkunzi yakhe iyakhwela ingaphuthi; inkomokazi yakhe iyazala, ingaphunzi.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 Bakhupha abantwanyana babo njengomhlambi, labantwana babo bayagida.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Baphakamisa ilizwi ngesigujana lechacho, bathokoze ngelizwi lomhlanga.
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 Ngoba iyini intokozo yakhe endlini yakhe emva kwakhe, lapho inani lenyanga zakhe liqunywa?
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
