UJobe 24
1 Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.
6 Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15 Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
16 Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
17 Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19 Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
21 Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
23 Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.
25 Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
