UJobe 23

1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:

Then Job answered by saying:

2 Lalamuhla isikhalazo sami silokubaba; isandla sami sinzima phezu kokububula kwami.

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

3 Kungathi ngabe ngiyazi lapho engingamthola khona! Bengingeza enkundleni yakhe!

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

4 Ngibeke kuhle udaba lwami phambi kwakhe, ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngokuphikisa.

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

5 Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

6 Uzaphikisana lami ngobukhulu bamandla yini? Hatshi, kodwa uzabeka inhliziyo yakhe kimi.

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

7 Lapho oqotho angaphikisana laye; ngakho bengizaphepha phakade kumahluleli wami.

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

8 Khangelani ngiya phambili, kodwa kakho, lemuva, kodwa kangimboni.

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

9 Ngakwesokhohlo ekusebenzeni kwakhe, kodwa kangimboni; uyacatsha ngakwesokunene, kodwa kangimboni.

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

10 Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

11 Unyawo lwami lubambelele enyathelweni lakhe, ngiyigcinile indlela yakhe, kangiphambukanga.

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

12 Kangisukanga lemlayweni wezindebe zakhe, ngawalondoloza amazwi omlomo wakhe okwedlula isabelo sami.

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

13 Kodwa yena ukokukodwa, ngubani-ke ongambuyisela emuva? Lokho umphefumulo wakhe okufisayo uyakwenza.

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

14 Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

15 Ngenxa yalokho ngitshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe; ngicabanga, ngiyamesaba.

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

16 Ngoba uNkulunkulu wenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla, loSomandla ungethusile.

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

17 Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.