UJobe 24
1 Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
Wherefore from the Mighty One Times have not been hidden, And those knowing Him have not seen His days.
2 Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
The borders they reach, A drove they have taken violently away, Yea, they do evil.
3 Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
The ass of the fatherless they lead away, They take in pledge the ox of the widow,
4 Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
They turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.
5 Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
Lo, wild asses in a wilderness, They have gone out about their work, Seeking early for prey, A mixture for himself — food for young ones.
6 Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
In a field his provender they reap, And the vineyard of the wicked they glean.
7 Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
The naked they cause to lodge Without clothing. And there is no covering in the cold.
8 Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
From the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge — have embraced a rock.
9 Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
They take violently away From the breast the orphan, And on the poor they lay a pledge.
10 Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
Naked, they have gone without clothing, And hungry — have taken away a sheaf.
11 Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
Between their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst.
12 Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
Because of enmity men do groan, And the soul of pierced ones doth cry, And God doth not give praise.
13 Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
They have been among rebellious ones of light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abode in His paths.
14 Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
At the light doth the murderer rise, He doth slay 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.
And the eye of an adulterer Hath observed the twilight, Saying, 'No eye doth behold me.' And he putteth the face in secret.
16 Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
He hath dug in the darkness — houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light.
17 Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
When together, morning [is] to them death shade, When he discerneth the terrors of death shade.
18 Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Light he [is] on the face of the waters, Vilified is their portion in the earth, He turneth not the way of vineyards.
19 Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
Drought — also heat — consume snow-waters, Sheol [those who] have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
Forget him doth the womb, Sweeten [on] him doth the worm, No more is he remembered, And broken as a tree is wickedness.
21 Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
Treating evil the barren [who] beareth not, And [to] the widow he doth no good,
22 Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
And hath drawn the mighty by his power, He riseth, and none believeth in life.
23 Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes [are] on their ways.
24 Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
High they were [for] a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all [others] they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off.
25 Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
And if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?
