Job 4
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 “If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 “Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 “Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 ‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
