UJobe 4
1 UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
And Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
If one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?
3 Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
Truly, you have been a helper to others, and you have made feeble hands strong;
4 Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
He who was near to falling has been lifted up by your words, and you have given strength to bent knees.
5 Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
But now it has come on you and it is a weariness to you; you are touched by it and your mind is troubled.
6 Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
Is not your fear of God your support, and your upright way of life your hope?
7 Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
Have you ever seen destruction come to an upright man? or when were the god-fearing ever cut off?
8 Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.
9 Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
By the breath of God destruction takes them, and by the wind of his wrath they are cut off.
10 Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
Though the noise of the lion and the sounding of his voice, may be loud, the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
The old lion comes to his end for need of food, and the young of the she-lion go wandering in all directions.
12 Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
A word was given to me secretly, and the low sound of it came to my ears.
13 Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
In troubled thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep comes on men,
14 ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
Fear came on me and shaking, and my bones were full of trouble;
15 Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
And a breath was moving over my face; the hair of my flesh became stiff:
16 Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
Something was present before me, but I was not able to see it clearly; there was a form before my eyes: a quiet voice came to my ears, saying:
17 Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
May a man be upright before God? or a man be clean before his Maker?
18 Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
Truly, he puts no faith in his servants, and he sees error in his angels;
19 Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
How much more those living in houses of earth, whose bases are in the dust! They are crushed more quickly than an insect;
20 Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
Between morning and evening they are completely broken; they come to an end for ever, and no one takes note.
21 Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
If their tent-cord is pulled up, do they not come to an end, and without wisdom?
