UJobe 29
1 UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
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 shone on 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in 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 steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9 iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
The princes refrained from 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 stuck 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 commended me,
12 ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,
13 Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on 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 me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
17 Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
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 will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.
19 Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
25 Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
