UJobe 22
1 Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
2 Umuntu angaba losizo kuNkulunkulu yini, ngoba ohlakaniphileyo elusizo kuye ngokwakhe?
“How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
3 Kuyintokozo yini kuSomandla ukuthi ulungile? Kumbe inzuzo kuye ukuthi uphelelise indlela zakho?
Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
4 Uzakusola yini ngenxa yokwesaba kwakho? Uzangena lawe kusahlulelo.
Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
5 Ububi bakho kabubukhulu yini, lezono zakho kazilakuphela?
No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
6 Ngoba uthethe isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho, wahlubula abanqunu izigqoko.
For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
7 Kawumnathisanga amanzi odiniweyo, lolambileyo umgodlele ukudla.
You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
8 Kodwa umuntu olengalo, umhlaba ungowakhe, lowemukeleka ebusweni wahlala kuwo.
Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
9 Uxotshile abafelokazi bengelalutho, lengalo zezintandane zichotshoziwe.
You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
10 Ngakho-ke imijibila ikuhanqile, lovalo luhle lwakwesabisa,
That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
11 kumbe ubumnyama ukuze ungaboni, lesikhukhula samanzi sikusibekele.
That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
12 UNkulunkulu kakho yini engqongeni yamazulu? Bona-ke ingqonga yezinkanyezi, ukuthi ziphakeme kangakanani.
Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
13 Kanti uthi: UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela yini engemuva komnyama onzima?
But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
14 Amayezi amnyama ayisisibekelo sakhe ukuze angaboni, uhamba esigombolozini samazulu.
Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
15 Usunanzelele indlela endala yini abantu ababi abanyathela kuyo?
Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
16 Abahluthunwa kungakabi yisikhathi; uzamcolo wathululwa phezu kwesisekelo sabo.
They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
17 Abathi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi. LoSomandla wayenzeni kubo?
They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Kanti yena wayegcwalise izindlu zabo ngokuhle; kodwa icebo labakhohlakeleyo likhatshana lami.
And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona bathokoze, lomsulwa ubahleka usulu.
Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
20 Isibili isitha sethu sichithiwe, lomlilo uqede insali yabo.
saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
21 Ake wejwayelane laye, ube lokuthula, ngalokho okuhle kuzakuza kuwe.
Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
22 Ake wemukele umlayo ovela emlonyeni wakhe, ubeke amazwi akhe enhliziyweni yakho.
Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
23 Uba ubuyela kuSomandla, uzakwakhiwa, ususe okubi khatshana lamathente akho.
If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
24 Ubusubeka igolide lakho othulini, legolide leOfiri elitsheni lezifula.
and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
25 Ngakho uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva sakho esinengi.
then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
26 Ngoba ngalesosikhathi uzazithokozisa ngoSomandla, uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, akuzwe, ukhokhe izifungo zakho.
You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will keep your promises to him.
28 Uzaquma-ke udaba, luqiniseke kuwe, lokukhanya kukhanye endleleni zakho.
Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
29 Nxa behliselwe phansi, ubususithi: Phezulu! Abesesindisa othobekileyo ngamehlo.
When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
30 Uzamkhulula ongemsulwa; njalo ukhululwa ngokuhlanzeka kwezandla zakho.
God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
