UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that 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 man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe, without 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
Yet they said 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 profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Ngoba iyini intokozo yakhe endlini yakhe emva kwakhe, lapho inani lenyanga zakhe liqunywa?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He 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 pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which 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 prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his 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 all men draw 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? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
