UJobe 4
1 UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
4 Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.
5 Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!
6 Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
7 Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where have the righteous been cut off?
8 Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed.
10 Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
The fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
13 Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
A fear and a horror came upon me, Which made all my bones to shake.
15 Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
Then a spirit passed before my face, The hair of my flesh rose on end;
16 Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
17 Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
“Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
19 Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
20 Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
21 Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
