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]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong 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 have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, 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.
Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
8 Ngoba ake ubuze esizukulwaneni sakuqala, uzilungisele isidingo saboyise.
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
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 grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
Whilst it [is] yet in his 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 hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
14 Othemba lakhe lizaqunywa, lokuthemba kwakhe kuyibulembu besayobe.
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] 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 it fast, but it shall not endure.
16 Uluhlaza phambi kwelanga, lamahlumela akhe aphuma esivandeni sakhe.
He [is] green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.
17 Impande zakhe zithandele enqunjini; ubona indawo yamatshe.
His roots are wrapped about the heap, [and] seeth the place of stones.
18 Uba emchitha endaweni yakhe, izamphika ithi: Kangizange ngikubone.
If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], 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 grow.
20 Khangela, uNkulunkulu kayikumlahla opheleleyo, kabambi isandla sabenzi bobubi.
Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:
21 Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.
22 Abakuzondayo bazakwembeswa ngenhloni, lethente lababi lingabi khona.
They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
