UJobe 4
1 UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
