UJobe 31
1 Ngenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami; pho ngingananzelela njani intombi?
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 Ngoba siyini isabelo sikaNkulunkulu esivela phezulu, lelifa likaSomandla elivela endaweni eziphezulu?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Incithakalo kayisiyomubi yini, lengozi yabenzi bobubi?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Yena kaziboni yini indlela zami, abale zonke izinyathelo zami?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Uba ngihambe ngokuyize, kumbe unyawo lwami luphuthumele enkohlisweni,
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
6 kangilinganise ngesilinganiso esilungileyo, ukuze uNkulunkulu azi ubuqotho bami.
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 Uba inyathelo lami liphambukile endleleni, lenhliziyo yami yalandela amehlo ami, kumbe kunamathele isici ezandleni zami;
If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 kangihlanyele, kodwa kudle omunye, lezilimo zami zisitshulwe.
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 Uba inhliziyo yami iyengwe ngowesifazana, kumbe ngacathama emnyango kamakhelwane wami,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 umkami kacholele omunye, labanye kabaguqe phezu kwakhe.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Ngoba lokho kuyinkohlakalo, njalo kuyisono ngabahluleli.
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 Ngoba ngumlilo odla kuze kube yincithakalo, usiphule sonke isivuno sami.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 Uba ngalile udaba lwenceku yami loba olwencekukazi yami, lapho ziphikisana lami,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 pho ngizakwenzani lapho uNkulunkulu esukuma? Lalapho esethekela, ngizaphendulani kuye?
For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
15 Lowo owangenza esiswini kamenzanga yena yini, lowasibumba esiswini munye?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 Uba ngigodlele umyanga isifiso, kumbe ngifiphaze amehlo omfelokazi,
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 kumbe ngadla ucezu lwami ngedwa, ukuze intandane ingadli kulo
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 (ngoba kwasebutsheni bami yakhula lami nginjengoyise, ngamqondisa kusukela esizalweni sikamama),
(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
19 uba ngabona obhubha ngenxa yokuswela isigqoko, loba umyanga engelasembatho,
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 uba inkalo zakhe zingangibusisanga, ngoba ekhudunyezwe yiboya bezimvu zami,
If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
21 uba ngaphakamisa isandla sami ngimelene lentandane, lapho ngabona usizo lwami esangweni,
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 kaliwe ihlombe lami esiphangeni sami, lengalo yami iqamuke ethanjeni layo.
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Ngoba incithakalo kaNkulunkulu yayiyisesabiso kimi, ngingenelisi ngenxa yobukhulu bakhe.
For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
24 Uba ngenzile igolide laba lithemba lami, ngathi kugolide elihle: Themba lami.
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 Uba ngithokozile ngoba inotho yami inengi, langoba isandla sami sithole okunengi;
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 uba ngikhangele ilanga lapho libenyezela, loba inyanga ehamba enkazimulweni,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 lenhliziyo yami yayengwa ensitha, kumbe isandla sami sange umlomo wami,
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 lalokho yisiphambeko phambi kwabehluleli, ngoba ngabe ngimphikile uNkulunkulu waphezulu.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 Uba ngithokozile ngokuchitheka kongizondayo, kumbe ngajabula lapho ububi bumthola;
If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 njalo ngingavumelanga umlomo wami ukuthi wone, ngokucela umphefumulo wakhe ngesiqalekiso;
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 uba abantu bethente lami bebengatshongo ukuthi: Hawu, aluba besilokwenyama yakhe, ngabe kasisuthanga.
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 Owemzini kazanga alale esitaladeni; iminyango yami ngayivulela isihambi.
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 Uba ngasibekela iziphambeko zami njengoAdamu, ngokufihla isono sami esifubeni sami.
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 Ngoba ngethuswa lixuku elikhulu, lokudelelwa ngabensendo kwangesabisa, ngakho ngathula, kangaze ngaphuma emnyango.
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
35 Kungathi ngabe ngilongangizwa! Khangelani uphawu lwami. Kungathi uSomandla angangiphendula, lokuthi ophikisana lami ngabe ubhale ugwalo!
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 Isibili, bengingaluthwala ehlombe lami, ngilubophe lube ngumqhele kimi.
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 Ngimtshele inani lezinyathelo zami, ngisondele kuye njengesiphathamandla.
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 Uba umhlaba wami ukhalile ngami, lemifolo yawo ililile ndawonye,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 uba ngidlile amandla awo kungelamali, kumbe ngenza umphefumulo wabaniniwo uphele,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 kakuhlume ukhula oluhlabayo endaweni yengqoloyi, lokhula olunukayo endaweni yebhali. Amazwi kaJobe asephelile.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
