UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
Oh 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 shined above 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 days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
5 lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
6 lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
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 princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved 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 unto me;
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
The blessing of him that 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 itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
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 with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
Unto 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 dropped 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.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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 one that comforteth the mourners.
