UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
But Job answered and said:
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Mina-ke ukusola kwami kusemuntwini yini? Kodwa uba kunjalo, kungani umoya wami ungekhathazeke?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
17 Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel 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 concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
