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 such things? How long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?
3 UNkulunkulu uyahlanekela isahlulelo yini? Kumbe uSomandla uyahlanekela ukulunga yini?
Will God pervert judgment? Or will the Almighty pervert justice?
4 Uba abantwana bakho bonile kuye, yena usebalahlile emandleni esiphambeko sabo;
As thy children sinned against him, He hath given them up to their transgression.
5 uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
But if thou wilt seek early to God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty, —
6 uba uhlambulukile, uqotho; isibili khathesi ubezavuka ngenxa yakho, aphumelelise indawo yokuhlala yokulunga kwakho.
If thou wilt be pure and upright, Surely he will yet arise for thee, And prosper thy righteous habitation;
7 Lanxa ukuqala kwakho bekukuncinyane, kube kanti isiphetho sakho sizakwanda kakhulu.
So that thy beginning shall be small, And thy latter end very great.
8 Ngoba ake ubuze esizukulwaneni sakuqala, uzilungisele isidingo saboyise.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And mark what hath been searched out by their fathers;
9 Ngoba singabezolo, njalo kasazi, ngoba insuku zethu emhlabeni ziyisithunzi.
(For we are of yesterday and know nothing, Since our days upon the earth are but a shadow; )
10 Kabayikukufundisa yini, bakutshele, bakhuphe amazwi enhliziyweni yabo?
Will not they instruct thee, and tell thee, And utter words from their understanding?
11 Imihlanga ingakhula lapho okungelaxhaphozi khona yini? Ibhuma likhule lapho okungelamanzi khona?
“Can the paper-reed grow up without mire? Can the bulrush grow without water?
12 Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
While it is yet in its greenness, and is not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.
13 Zinjalo indlela zabo bonke abamkhohlwayo uNkulunkulu, lethemba lomzenzisi lizabhubha.
Such is the fate of all who forget God; So perisheth the hope of the ungodly.
14 Othemba lakhe lizaqunywa, lokuthemba kwakhe kuyibulembu besayobe.
His confidence shall come to nought, And his trust shall prove a spider's web.
15 Uyeyama endlini yakhe, kodwa kayimi; ubambelela kiyo, kodwa kayihlali.
He shall lean upon his house, and it shall not stand; He shall lay fast hold on it, but it shall not endure.
16 Uluhlaza phambi kwelanga, lamahlumela akhe aphuma esivandeni sakhe.
He is in full green before the sun, And his branches shoot forth over his garden;
17 Impande zakhe zithandele enqunjini; ubona indawo yamatshe.
His roots are entwined about the heap, And he seeth the place of stones;
18 Uba emchitha endaweni yakhe, izamphika ithi: Kangizange ngikubone.
When he shall be destroyed from his place, It shall deny him, saying, 'I never saw thee.'
19 Khangela, le yintokozo yendlela yakhe; njalo kuzakhula abanye emhlabathini.
Lo! such is the joy of his course! And others shall spring up from his place”
20 Khangela, uNkulunkulu kayikumlahla opheleleyo, kabambi isandla sabenzi bobubi.
Behold, God will not cast away an upright man; Nor will he help the evil-doers.
21 Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
While he filleth thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with gladness,
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.
