Ayubu 23
1 Ndipo Ayubu akajibu:
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 “Hata leo malalamiko yangu ni chungu; mkono wake ni mzito juu yangu hata nikiugua.
Lalamuhla isikhalazo sami silokubaba; isandla sami sinzima phezu kokububula kwami.
3 Laiti ningefahamu mahali pa kumwona; laiti ningeweza kwenda mahali akaapo!
Kungathi ngabe ngiyazi lapho engingamthola khona! Bengingeza enkundleni yakhe!
4 Ningeliweka shauri langu mbele zake, na kukijaza kinywa changu na hoja.
Ngibeke kuhle udaba lwami phambi kwakhe, ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngokuphikisa.
5 Ningejua kwamba angenijibu nini, na kuelewa lile ambalo angelisema.
Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.
6 Je, angenipinga kwa nguvu nyingi? La, asingenigandamiza.
Uzaphikisana lami ngobukhulu bamandla yini? Hatshi, kodwa uzabeka inhliziyo yakhe kimi.
7 Hapo mtu mwadilifu angeweka shauri lake mbele zake, nami ningeokolewa milele na mhukumu wangu.
Lapho oqotho angaphikisana laye; ngakho bengizaphepha phakade kumahluleli wami.
8 “Lakini nikienda mashariki, hayupo; nikienda magharibi, simpati.
Khangelani ngiya phambili, kodwa kakho, lemuva, kodwa kangimboni.
9 Anapokuwa kazini pande za kaskazini, simwoni; akigeukia kusini, nako simwoni hata kidogo.
Ngakwesokhohlo ekusebenzeni kwakhe, kodwa kangimboni; uyacatsha ngakwesokunene, kodwa kangimboni.
10 Lakini anaijua njia niiendeayo; akiisha kunijaribu, nitatoka kama dhahabu.
Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.
11 Nyayo zangu zimefuata hatua zake kwa karibu; nimeishika njia yake bila kukengeuka.
Unyawo lwami lubambelele enyathelweni lakhe, ngiyigcinile indlela yakhe, kangiphambukanga.
12 Sijaziacha amri zilizotoka midomoni mwake; nimeyathamini maneno ya kinywa chake kuliko chakula changu cha kila siku.
Kangisukanga lemlayweni wezindebe zakhe, ngawalondoloza amazwi omlomo wakhe okwedlula isabelo sami.
13 “Lakini yeye husimama peke yake; ni nani awezaye kumpinga? Yeye hufanya lolote atakalo.
Kodwa yena ukokukodwa, ngubani-ke ongambuyisela emuva? Lokho umphefumulo wakhe okufisayo uyakwenza.
14 Hutimiliza maagizo yake dhidi yangu, na bado anayo mipango mingi kama hiyo ambayo ameiweka akiba.
Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.
15 Hiyo ndiyo sababu ninaingiwa na hofu mbele zake; nifikiriapo haya yote ninamwogopa.
Ngenxa yalokho ngitshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe; ngicabanga, ngiyamesaba.
16 Mungu ameufanya moyo wangu kuzimia; yeye Mwenyezi amenitia hofu.
Ngoba uNkulunkulu wenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla, loSomandla ungethusile.
17 Hata hivyo sijanyamazishwa na giza, wala kwa giza nene linalofunika uso wangu.
Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.
