UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on 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 my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; 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 like a robe and a turban.
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
