UJobe 24
1 Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
Why are not times treasured up by the Almighty? And why do not they who know him see his days?
2 Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
They remove landmarks; They take away flocks by violence, and pasture them.
3 Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, And take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
They push the needy from the way; All the poor of the land are forced to hide themselves.
5 Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their work; They search for prey; The wilderness supplieth them food for their children.
6 Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
In the fields they reap the harvest, And gather the vintage of the oppressor.
7 Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
They lodge naked, without clothing, And without covering from the cold.
8 Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
They are drenched with the mountain showers, And embrace the rock for want of shelter.
9 Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
The fatherless are torn from the breast, And the garment of the needy is taken for a pledge.
10 Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
They go naked, without clothing, And carry the sheaf hungry.
11 Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
They make oil within their walls, And tread the wine-vat, yet suffer thirst.
12 Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
From anguish the dying groan, And the wounded cry aloud; And God regardeth not their prayer!
13 Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
Others hate the light; They know not its ways, And abide not in its paths.
14 Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
With the light ariseth the murderer; He killeth the poor and needy; In the night he is as a thief.
15 Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon his face.
16 Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.
17 Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
The morning is to them the very shadow of death; They are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near the vineyards.
19 Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
As drought and heat consume the snow waters, So doth the grave the wicked. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.
21 Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
He oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne, And doeth not good to the widow.
22 Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
He taketh away the mighty by his power; He riseth up, and no one is sure of life.
23 Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
God giveth them security, so that they are confident; His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
They are exalted; —in a little while they are gone! They are brought low, and die, like all others; And like the topmost ears of corn are they cut off.
25 Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my discourse to be worthless?
