UJobe 21
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
3 Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
Put up with me, and I also will speak; 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 person? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
Look at me and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified, and trembling seizes my body.
7 Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
8 Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring are established before their eyes.
9 Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe from fear; neither is the rod of God on them.
10 Inkunzi yakhe iyakhwela ingaphuthi; inkomokazi yakhe iyazala, ingaphunzi.
Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so; their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.
11 Bakhupha abantwanyana babo njengomhlambi, labantwana babo bayagida.
They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Baphakamisa ilizwi ngesigujana lechacho, bathokoze ngelizwi lomhlanga.
They sing to the tambourine and harp and rejoice with the music of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity, and they go down quietly to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
They say to God, 'Depart from us for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.
15 Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?'
16 Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
See, is not their prosperity in their own hands? I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.
17 Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
How often is it that the lamp of wicked people is put out, or that their calamity comes upon them? How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them in his anger?
18 Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
You say, 'God lays up one's guilt for his children to pay.' Let him pay it himself, so that he might know his guilt.
20 Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
Let his eyes see his own 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 does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
23 Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
One man dies in his full strength, being completely quiet and at ease.
24 Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
25 Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
Another man dies in bitterness of soul, one who has never experienced anything good.
26 Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
They lie down alike in the dust; the worms cover them both.
27 Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
See, I know your thoughts, and the ways in which you wish to wrong me.
28 Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'
29 Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
Have you never asked traveling people? Do you not know the evidence they can tell,
30 Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity, and that he is led away from the day of wrath?
31 Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face? Who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
Yet he will be borne to the grave; men will keep watch over his tomb.
33 Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him; all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him.
34 Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?”
