UJobe 23

1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:

Then Job answered and said,

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

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

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

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

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

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

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

Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.

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

There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

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

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

10 Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

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

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

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

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

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

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

14 Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

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

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.