UJobe 4
1 UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.
5 Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
“Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
10 Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
13 Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
17 Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
19 Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20 Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
