UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
And Job again took up his discourse, and said,
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,
3 lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4 Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,
5 lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my sons were about me,
6 lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
when I went forth to the gate to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood.
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
The voice of the ranking men was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him.
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know.
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
After my words they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.
