UJobe 33
1 Kube kanti-ke, Jobe, ake uzwe inkulumo zami, ubeke indlebe kuwo wonke amazwi ami.
“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
2 Khangelani, sengivule umlomo wami, ulimi lwami lukhuluma emlonyeni wami.
See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth.
3 Amazwi ami angawokuqonda kwenhliziyo yami, azakhuluma ulwazi lwendebe zami ngokuhlanzeka.
My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely.
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.
If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.
6 Khangela, nginjengawe kuNkulunkulu, lami ngathatshwa ebumbeni.
Behold, I am towards God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay.
7 Khangela, ukwethusa kwami kungakwethusi, lesandla sami singabi nzima phezu kwakho.
Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8 Isibili ukhulume endlebeni zami, ngezwa ilizwi lamazwi, uthi:
“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying,
9 Ngimsulwa, kangilasiphambeko, ngihlanzekile, njalo kakulabubi kimi.
‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me.
10 Khangela, uthola amathuba okumelana lami, ungibala njengesitha sakhe.
Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy.
11 Ufaka inyawo zami esigodweni, aqaphele zonke indlela zami.
He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12 Khangela, kulokhu kawulunganga; ngizakuphendula, ngoba uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulomuntu.
“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13 Umphikiselani? Ngoba engaphenduli leyodwa yezindaba zakhe.
Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters?
14 Ngoba uNkulunkulu ukhuluma kanye, yebo, kabili, engekho onanzayo.
For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention.
15 Ephutsheni, kumbono webusuku, lapho ubuthongo obunzima busehlela abantu, ekuwozeleni embhedeni;
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed,
16 abesesembula indlebe yabantu, aphawule ukuqondiswa kwabo;
then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction,
17 ukuze aphambule umuntu ekwenzenikwakhe, afihle ukuzigqaja emuntwini,
that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 anqande umphefumulo wakhe egodini, lempilo yakhe ekwedluleni ngenkemba.
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 Njalo ujeziswa ngobuhlungu embhedeni wakhe, langokuqaqamba kwamathambo akhe okungapheliyo,
“He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones,
20 ize impilo yakhe inengwe yisinkwa, lomphefumulo wakhe yikudla okuloyisekayo.
so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food.
21 Inyama yakhe iyaphela, ingabonakali, lamathambo akhe abekade engabonakali avele.
His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Lomphefumulo wakhe useduze legodi, lempilo yakhe kubabulali.
Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23 Uba kulesithunywa kanye laye, umlamuli, oyedwa phakathi kwenkulungwane, ukutshela umuntu ukuqonda kwakhe,
“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one amongst a thousand, to show to man what is right for him,
24 uzakuba lomusa kuye athi: Mkhulule ekwehleleni egodini, sengithole inhlawulo.
then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’
25 Inyama yakhe izakuba ntsha okwedlula ubutsha; abuyele ensukwini zobutsha bakhe.
His flesh will be fresher than 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 he is favourable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness.
27 Ukhangela ebantwini athi: Ngonile, ngahlanekela okulungileyo, kodwa kakungisizanga.
He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
28 Uhlengile umphefumulo wami ekwedluleni egodini, lempilo yami izabona ukukhanya.
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29 Khangelani, lezizinto uNkulunkulu uyazenza ngomuntu kabili kumbe kathathu,
“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man,
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 the living.
31 Zwana, Jobe, ungilalele, uthule, njalo mina ngikhulume.
Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak.
32 Uba kulamazwi, ungiphendule; khuluma, ngoba ngifisa ukutshengisa ukuthi ulungile.
If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you.
33 Uba kungenjalo, wena ngilalela; thula, njalo ngizakufundisa inhlakanipho.
If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”
