UJobe 21
1 UJobe wasephendula wathi:
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
15 Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
23 Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
26 Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
