UJobe 33
1 Kube kanti-ke, Jobe, ake uzwe inkulumo zami, ubeke indlebe kuwo wonke amazwi ami.
“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 Khangelani, sengivule umlomo wami, ulimi lwami lukhuluma emlonyeni wami.
Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.
3 Amazwi ami angawokuqonda kwenhliziyo yami, azakhuluma ulwazi lwendebe zami ngokuhlanzeka.
My words are from an upright heart, and my lips speak sincerely what I know.
4 UMoya kaNkulunkulu wangenza, lokuphefumula kukaSomandla kwanginika impilo.
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Uba ulakho ngiphendula; zihlele phambi kwami, uzimise.
Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.
6 Khangela, nginjengawe kuNkulunkulu, lami ngathatshwa ebumbeni.
I am just like you before God; I was also formed from clay.
7 Khangela, ukwethusa kwami kungakwethusi, lesandla sami singabi nzima phezu kwakho.
Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.
8 Isibili ukhulume endlebeni zami, ngezwa ilizwi lamazwi, uthi:
Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words:
9 Ngimsulwa, kangilasiphambeko, ngihlanzekile, njalo kakulabubi kimi.
‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
10 Khangela, uthola amathuba okumelana lami, ungibala njengesitha sakhe.
Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.
11 Ufaka inyawo zami esigodweni, aqaphele zonke indlela zami.
He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’
12 Khangela, kulokhu kawulunganga; ngizakuphendula, ngoba uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulomuntu.
Behold, you are not right in this matter. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.
13 Umphikiselani? Ngoba engaphenduli leyodwa yezindaba zakhe.
Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?
14 Ngoba uNkulunkulu ukhuluma kanye, yebo, kabili, engekho onanzayo.
For God speaks in one way and in another, yet no one notices.
15 Ephutsheni, kumbono webusuku, lapho ubuthongo obunzima busehlela abantu, ekuwozeleni embhedeni;
In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
16 abesesembula indlebe yabantu, aphawule ukuqondiswa kwabo;
He opens their ears and terrifies them with warnings
17 ukuze aphambule umuntu ekwenzenikwakhe, afihle ukuzigqaja emuntwini,
to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,
18 anqande umphefumulo wakhe egodini, lempilo yakhe ekwedluleni ngenkemba.
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Njalo ujeziswa ngobuhlungu embhedeni wakhe, langokuqaqamba kwamathambo akhe okungapheliyo,
A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,
20 ize impilo yakhe inengwe yisinkwa, lomphefumulo wakhe yikudla okuloyisekayo.
so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food.
21 Inyama yakhe iyaphela, ingabonakali, lamathambo akhe abekade engabonakali avele.
His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude.
22 Lomphefumulo wakhe useduze legodi, lempilo yakhe kubabulali.
He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.
23 Uba kulesithunywa kanye laye, umlamuli, oyedwa phakathi kwenkulungwane, ukutshela umuntu ukuqonda kwakhe,
Yet if there is a messenger on his side, one mediator in a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him,
24 uzakuba lomusa kuye athi: Mkhulule ekwehleleni egodini, sengithole inhlawulo.
to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
25 Inyama yakhe izakuba ntsha okwedlula ubutsha; abuyele ensukwini zobutsha bakhe.
then his flesh is refreshed like a child’s; he returns to the days of his youth.
26 Akhuleke kuNkulunkulu, ozakuba lesisa kuye, abone ubuso bakhe ngentokozo; ngoba uzabuyisela emuntwini ukulunga kwakhe.
He prays to God and finds favor; he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, and God restores His righteousness to that man.
27 Ukhangela ebantwini athi: Ngonile, ngahlanekela okulungileyo, kodwa kakungisizanga.
Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.
28 Uhlengile umphefumulo wami ekwedluleni egodini, lempilo yami izabona ukukhanya.
He redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and I will live to see the light.’
29 Khangelani, lezizinto uNkulunkulu uyazenza ngomuntu kabili kumbe kathathu,
Behold, all these things God does to a man, two or even three times,
30 ukuze abuyise umphefumulo wakhe egodini, ukuze akhanyiswe ngokukhanya kwabaphilayo.
to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Zwana, Jobe, ungilalele, uthule, njalo mina ngikhulume.
Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 Uba kulamazwi, ungiphendule; khuluma, ngoba ngifisa ukutshengisa ukuthi ulungile.
But if you have something to say, answer me; speak up, for I would like to vindicate you.
33 Uba kungenjalo, wena ngilalela; thula, njalo ngizakufundisa inhlakanipho.
But if not, then listen to me; be quiet, and I will teach you wisdom.”
