UJobe 24
1 Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
The times are not hidden from the Almighty; even those who know him, do not know his days.
2 Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
Some have crossed the boundaries, plundered the flocks, and given them pasture.
3 Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
They have driven away the donkey of orphans, and have taken the cow from the widow as collateral.
4 Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
They have undermined the way of the poor, and have pressed together the meek of the earth.
5 Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
Others, like wild asses in the desert, go forth to their work; by watching for prey, they obtain bread for their children.
6 Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
They reap a field that is not their own, and they harvest a vineyard that they have taken by force.
7 Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
They send men away naked, having taken the clothing of those who have no covering in the cold;
8 Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
these are wet with the mountain rain, and, having no covering, they embrace the rocks.
9 Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
They have used violence to deprive orphans, and they have robbed the poor common people.
10 Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
From the naked and those who do not have enough clothing, and from the hungry, they have taken away sheaves of grain.
11 Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
They take their midday rest among the stockpiles of those who, though they have trodden the winepresses, suffer thirst.
12 Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
In the cities, they caused the men to groan and the spirit of the wounded to cry out, and so God does not allow this to go unpunished.
13 Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
They have been rebellious against the light; they have not known his ways, nor have they returned by his paths.
14 Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
The killer of men rises at first light; he executes the destitute and the poor, but, in truth, he is like a thief in the night.
15 Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
The eye of the adulterer waits for darkness, saying, “No eye will see me,” and he covers his face.
16 Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light.
17 Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
If sunrise should suddenly appear, it is treated by them like the shadow of death; and they walk in darkness, as if in light.
18 Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
He is nimble on the surface of water. His place on land is to be accursed. May he not walk by way of the vineyards.
19 Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
May he cross from the snowy waters to excessive heat, and his sin, all the way to hell. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
Let mercy forget him. His charm is worms. Let him not be remembered, but instead be broken like an unfruitful tree.
21 Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
For he has fed on the barren, who does not bear fruit, and he has not done good to the widow.
22 Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
He has pulled down the strong by his strength, and, when he stands up, he will not have trust in his life.
23 Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
God has given him a place for repentance, and he abuses it with arrogance, but his eyes are upon his ways.
24 Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
They are lifted up for a little while, but they will not continue, and they will be brought low, just like all things, and they will be taken away, and, like the tops of the ears of grain, they will be crushed.
25 Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
But, if this is not so, who is able to prove to me that I have lied and to place my words before God?
