UJobe 23

1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.