< Job 23 >

1 And Job answereth and saith: —
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 Also — to-day [is] my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.
Lalamuhla isikhalazo sami silokubaba; isandla sami sinzima phezu kokububula kwami.
3 O that I had known — and I find Him, I come in unto His seat,
Kungathi ngabe ngiyazi lapho engingamthola khona! Bengingeza enkundleni yakhe!
4 I arrange before Him the cause, And my mouth fill [with] arguments.
Ngibeke kuhle udaba lwami phambi kwakhe, ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngokuphikisa.
5 I know the words He doth answer me, And understand what He saith to me.
Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.
6 In the abundance of power doth He strive with me? No! surely He putteth [it] in me.
Uzaphikisana lami ngobukhulu bamandla yini? Hatshi, kodwa uzabeka inhliziyo yakhe kimi.
7 There the upright doth reason with Him, And I escape for ever from my judge.
Lapho oqotho angaphikisana laye; ngakho bengizaphepha phakade kumahluleli wami.
8 Lo, forward I go — and He is not, And backward — and I perceive him not.
Khangelani ngiya phambili, kodwa kakho, lemuva, kodwa kangimboni.
9 [To] the left in His working — and I see not, He is covered [on] the right, and I behold not.
Ngakwesokhohlo ekusebenzeni kwakhe, kodwa kangimboni; uyacatsha ngakwesokunene, kodwa kangimboni.
10 For He hath known the way with me, He hath tried me — as gold I go forth.
Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.
11 On His step hath my foot laid hold, His way I have kept, and turn not aside,
Unyawo lwami lubambelele enyathelweni lakhe, ngiyigcinile indlela yakhe, kangiphambukanga.
12 The command of His lips, and I depart not. Above my allotted portion I have laid up The sayings of His mouth.
Kangisukanga lemlayweni wezindebe zakhe, ngawalondoloza amazwi omlomo wakhe okwedlula isabelo sami.
13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired — and He doth [it].
Kodwa yena ukokukodwa, ngubani-ke ongambuyisela emuva? Lokho umphefumulo wakhe okufisayo uyakwenza.
14 For He doth complete my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.
Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.
15 Therefore, from His presence I am troubled, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
Ngenxa yalokho ngitshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe; ngicabanga, ngiyamesaba.
16 And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.
Ngoba uNkulunkulu wenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla, loSomandla ungethusile.
17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.
Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.

< Job 23 >