UJobe 24
1 Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
Wherefore, since from the Almighty times are not hid, have, his knowing ones, no vision of his days?
2 Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
Boundaries, men move back, flocks, they seize and consume;
3 Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
The ass of the fatherless, they drive off, they take in pledge the ox of the widow;
4 Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
They turn aside the needy out of the way, at once, are the humbled of the land made to hide themselves.
5 Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
Lo! [as] wild asses in the wilderness, they go forth with their work, eager seekers for prey, the waste plain, yieldeth them food for their young;
6 Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
In the field—a man’s fodder, they cut down, and, the vineyard of the lawless, they strip of its late berries;
7 Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
Ill-clad, they are left to lodge without clothing, and have no covering in the cold;
8 Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
With the sweeping rain of the mountains, are they wet, and, through having no shelter, they embrace a rock.
9 Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
Men tear, from the breast, the fatherless, and, over the poor, they take a pledge;
10 Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
Naked, they go about without clothing, and, famished, they carry the sheaves;
11 Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
Between their walls, are they exposed to the sun, Wine-presses, they tread, and yet are thirsty;
12 Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
Out of the city—out of the houses, they make outcry. and, the soul of the wounded, calleth for help, and, GOD, doth not regard it as foolish.
13 Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
They, have become rebels against the light, —they are not acquainted with the ways thereof, neither abide they in the paths thereof.
14 Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
With the light, riseth the murderer, He slayeth the poor and needy, And, in the night, he becometh like a thief.
15 Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
And, the eye of the adulterer, watcheth for the evening twilight, saying, Not an eye will see me! A covering for the face, he putteth on;
16 Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
He breaketh, in the dark, into houses, —By day, they lock themselves in, They know not the light;
17 Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
For, in the case of all such, morning to them is the death-shade, For, to be recognised, is a death-shade terror.
18 Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Swift is he on the face of the waters, Speedily vanished their share in the land, He turneth not to the way of the vineyards.
19 Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat, steal away snow water, Hades, them who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
Maternal love shall forget him, the worm shall find him sweet, No more shall he be remembered, but perversity shall be shivered like a tree.
21 Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
He oppresseth the barren who beareth not, and, to the widow, he doeth not good;
22 Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
Yea he draggeth along the mighty by his strength, He riseth up, and none hath assurance of life;
23 Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
It is given him to be secure, and confident, yet, his eyes, are upon their ways.
24 Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
They are exalted a little, and are not, Yea having been laid low, like all men, are they gathered, Even as the top of an ear of corn, do they hang down.
25 Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
But, if not, who then can convict me of falsehood? or make of no account my words?
