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 hath cast them away for their transgression;
5 uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
If thou wouldest seek to God early, 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 they not 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 without mire? can the flag grow without water?
12 Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
While it is still green, 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 confidence 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 shall be destroyed 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 evildoers:
21 Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
Till he shall 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.
