UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
Job spoke again,
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
