UJobe 31

1 Ngenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami; pho ngingananzelela njani intombi?

I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

2 Ngoba siyini isabelo sikaNkulunkulu esivela phezulu, lelifa likaSomandla elivela endaweni eziphezulu?

For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

3 Incithakalo kayisiyomubi yini, lengozi yabenzi bobubi?

Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

4 Yena kaziboni yini indlela zami, abale zonke izinyathelo zami?

Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

5 Uba ngihambe ngokuyize, kumbe unyawo lwami luphuthumele enkohlisweni,

If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

6 kangilinganise ngesilinganiso esilungileyo, ukuze uNkulunkulu azi ubuqotho bami.

Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

7 Uba inyathelo lami liphambukile endleleni, lenhliziyo yami yalandela amehlo ami, kumbe kunamathele isici ezandleni zami;

If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

8 kangihlanyele, kodwa kudle omunye, lezilimo zami zisitshulwe.

Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

9 Uba inhliziyo yami iyengwe ngowesifazana, kumbe ngacathama emnyango kamakhelwane wami,

If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

10 umkami kacholele omunye, labanye kabaguqe phezu kwakhe.

Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

11 Ngoba lokho kuyinkohlakalo, njalo kuyisono ngabahluleli.

For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

12 Ngoba ngumlilo odla kuze kube yincithakalo, usiphule sonke isivuno sami.

Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

13 Uba ngalile udaba lwenceku yami loba olwencekukazi yami, lapho ziphikisana lami,

If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

14 pho ngizakwenzani lapho uNkulunkulu esukuma? Lalapho esethekela, ngizaphendulani kuye?

What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

15 Lowo owangenza esiswini kamenzanga yena yini, lowasibumba esiswini munye?

He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

16 Uba ngigodlele umyanga isifiso, kumbe ngifiphaze amehlo omfelokazi,

If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

17 kumbe ngadla ucezu lwami ngedwa, ukuze intandane ingadli kulo

Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

18 (ngoba kwasebutsheni bami yakhula lami nginjengoyise, ngamqondisa kusukela esizalweni sikamama),

(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

19 uba ngabona obhubha ngenxa yokuswela isigqoko, loba umyanga engelasembatho,

If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

20 uba inkalo zakhe zingangibusisanga, ngoba ekhudunyezwe yiboya bezimvu zami,

If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

21 uba ngaphakamisa isandla sami ngimelene lentandane, lapho ngabona usizo lwami esangweni,

If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

22 kaliwe ihlombe lami esiphangeni sami, lengalo yami iqamuke ethanjeni layo.

Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

23 Ngoba incithakalo kaNkulunkulu yayiyisesabiso kimi, ngingenelisi ngenxa yobukhulu bakhe.

For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

24 Uba ngenzile igolide laba lithemba lami, ngathi kugolide elihle: Themba lami.

If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

25 Uba ngithokozile ngoba inotho yami inengi, langoba isandla sami sithole okunengi;

If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

26 uba ngikhangele ilanga lapho libenyezela, loba inyanga ehamba enkazimulweni,

If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

27 lenhliziyo yami yayengwa ensitha, kumbe isandla sami sange umlomo wami,

If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

28 lalokho yisiphambeko phambi kwabehluleli, ngoba ngabe ngimphikile uNkulunkulu waphezulu.

(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

29 Uba ngithokozile ngokuchitheka kongizondayo, kumbe ngajabula lapho ububi bumthola;

If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

30 njalo ngingavumelanga umlomo wami ukuthi wone, ngokucela umphefumulo wakhe ngesiqalekiso;

Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

31 uba abantu bethente lami bebengatshongo ukuthi: Hawu, aluba besilokwenyama yakhe, ngabe kasisuthanga.

Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

32 Owemzini kazanga alale esitaladeni; iminyango yami ngayivulela isihambi.

The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

33 Uba ngasibekela iziphambeko zami njengoAdamu, ngokufihla isono sami esifubeni sami.

If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

34 Ngoba ngethuswa lixuku elikhulu, lokudelelwa ngabensendo kwangesabisa, ngakho ngathula, kangaze ngaphuma emnyango.

Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

35 Kungathi ngabe ngilongangizwa! Khangelani uphawu lwami. Kungathi uSomandla angangiphendula, lokuthi ophikisana lami ngabe ubhale ugwalo!

Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

36 Isibili, bengingaluthwala ehlombe lami, ngilubophe lube ngumqhele kimi.

Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

37 Ngimtshele inani lezinyathelo zami, ngisondele kuye njengesiphathamandla.

I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

38 Uba umhlaba wami ukhalile ngami, lemifolo yawo ililile ndawonye,

If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

39 uba ngidlile amandla awo kungelamali, kumbe ngenza umphefumulo wabaniniwo uphele,

If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

40 kakuhlume ukhula oluhlabayo endaweni yengqoloyi, lokhula olunukayo endaweni yebhali. Amazwi kaJobe asephelile.

Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.