UJobe 4
1 Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, and said: —
2 “Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
If one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?
3 Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
Lo! thou hast admonished many, and, slack hands, hast thou been wont to uphold:
4 Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
Him that was stumbling, have thy words raised up, and, sinking knees, hast thou strengthened.
5 Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
But, now, it cometh upon thee, and thou despairest, It smiteth even thee, and thou art dismayed.
6 Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
Is not, thy reverence, thy confidence? And is not, thy hope, the very integrity of thy ways?
7 Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
Remember, I pray thee, who, being innocent, hath perished, or when, the upright, have been cut off.
8 Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
So far as I have seen, They who plow for iniquity and sow misery, reap the same:
9 Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
By the blast of GOD, they perish, And, by the breath of his nostrils, are they consumed:
10 Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
[Notwithstanding] the roaring of the lion, and the noise of the howling lion, yet, the teeth of the fierce lions, are broken:
11 Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
The strong lion perishing for lack of prey, Even the whelps of the lioness, are scattered.
12 Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
But, unto me, something was brought by stealth, —and mine ear caught a whispering of the same:
13 Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
When there were thoughts, from visions of the night, —When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
Dread, came upon me, and trembling, The multitude of my bones, it put in dread:
15 Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-up:
16 Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
It stood still, but I could not distinguish its appearance, I looked, but there was no form before mine eyes, —A whispering voice, I heard: —
17 ‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
Shall, mortal man, be more just than GOD? Or a man be more pure than, his Maker?
18 Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
Lo! in his own servants, he trusteth not, and, his own messengers, he chargeth with error:
19 pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
How much more the dwellers in houses of clay, which, in the dust, have their foundation, which are crushed sooner than a moth:
20 Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
Betwixt morning and evening, are they broken in pieces, With none to save, they utterly perish:
21 Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
Is not their tent-rope within them, torn away? They die, disrobed of wisdom!
