UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Mina-ke ukusola kwami kusemuntwini yini? Kodwa uba kunjalo, kungani umoya wami ungekhathazeke?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Inkunzi yakhe iyakhwela ingaphuthi; inkomokazi yakhe iyazala, ingaphunzi.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Bakhupha abantwanyana babo njengomhlambi, labantwana babo bayagida.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 Baphakamisa ilizwi ngesigujana lechacho, bathokoze ngelizwi lomhlanga.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Ngoba iyini intokozo yakhe endlini yakhe emva kwakhe, lapho inani lenyanga zakhe liqunywa?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
