UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
Job went on speaking.
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
