UJobe 8
1 Wasephendula uBilidadi umShuhi wathi:
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
2 Koze kube nini ukhuluma lezizinto, lamazwi omlomo wakho abe ngumoya olamandla?
How long wilt thou speak these things, seeing that the words of thy mouth are as a mighty wind?
3 UNkulunkulu uyahlanekela isahlulelo yini? Kumbe uSomandla uyahlanekela ukulunga yini?
Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
4 Uba abantwana bakho bonile kuye, yena usebalahlile emandleni esiphambeko sabo;
If thy children sinned against Him, He delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
If thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 uba uhlambulukile, uqotho; isibili khathesi ubezavuka ngenxa yakho, aphumelelise indawo yokuhlala yokulunga kwakho.
If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 Lanxa ukuqala kwakho bekukuncinyane, kube kanti isiphetho sakho sizakwanda kakhulu.
And though thy beginning was small, yet thy end should greatly increase.
8 Ngoba ake ubuze esizukulwaneni sakuqala, uzilungisele isidingo saboyise.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out —
9 Ngoba singabezolo, njalo kasazi, ngoba insuku zethu emhlabeni ziyisithunzi.
For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow —
10 Kabayikukufundisa yini, bakutshele, bakhuphe amazwi enhliziyweni yabo?
Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
11 Imihlanga ingakhula lapho okungelaxhaphozi khona yini? Ibhuma likhule lapho okungelamanzi khona?
Can the rush shoot up without mire? Can the reed-grass grow without water?
12 Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
13 Zinjalo indlela zabo bonke abamkhohlwayo uNkulunkulu, lethemba lomzenzisi lizabhubha.
So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish;
14 Othemba lakhe lizaqunywa, lokuthemba kwakhe kuyibulembu besayobe.
Whose confidence is gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web.
15 Uyeyama endlini yakhe, kodwa kayimi; ubambelela kiyo, kodwa kayihlali.
He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
16 Uluhlaza phambi kwelanga, lamahlumela akhe aphuma esivandeni sakhe.
He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.
17 Impande zakhe zithandele enqunjini; ubona indawo yamatshe.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.
18 Uba emchitha endaweni yakhe, izamphika ithi: Kangizange ngikubone.
If he be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: 'I have not seen thee.'
19 Khangela, le yintokozo yendlela yakhe; njalo kuzakhula abanye emhlabathini.
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others spring.
20 Khangela, uNkulunkulu kayikumlahla opheleleyo, kabambi isandla sabenzi bobubi.
Behold, God will not cast away an innocent man, neither will He uphold the evil-doers;
21 Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
Till He fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.
22 Abakuzondayo bazakwembeswa ngenhloni, lethente lababi lingabi khona.
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
