UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
3 lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
When his lamp shined over my head, And when by his light I walked through darkness!
4 Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
As I was in the autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;
5 lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
6 lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
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.
For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who 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 heart of the widow to sing for joy.
14 Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
18 Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength 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.
To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
