UJobe 34
1 U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
Moreover Elihu answered,
2 “Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
“Hear my words, you wise men. Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.
3 Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
For the ear tries words, as the palate tastes food.
4 Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
Let us choose for us that which is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
For Job has said, ‘I am righteous, God has taken away my right.
6 Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’
7 UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
8 Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, and walks with wicked men?
9 Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’
10 Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
“Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
For the work of a man he will render to him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
Yes surely, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Or who has appointed him over the whole world?
14 Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
If he set his heart on himself, if he gathered to himself his spirit and his breath,
15 bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
all flesh would perish together, and man would turn again to dust.
16 Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
“If now you have understanding, hear this. Listen to the voice of my words.
17 Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
Should even one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18 Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
who says to a king, ‘Vile!’ or to nobles, ‘Wicked!’?
19 ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
He doesn’t respect the persons of princes, nor respect the rich more than the poor, for they all are the work of his hands.
20 Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
In a moment they die, even at midnight. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand.
21 Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
“For his eyes are on the ways of a man. He sees all his goings.
22 Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
For he doesn’t need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment.
24 Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
He breaks mighty men in pieces in ways past finding out, and sets others in their place.
25 Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
Therefore he takes knowledge of their works. He overturns them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
He strikes them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
because they turned away from following him, and wouldn’t pay attention to any of his ways,
28 Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him. He heard the cry of the afflicted.
29 Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
When he gives quietness, who then can condemn? When he hides his face, who then can see him? He is over a nation or a man alike,
30 ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
that the godless man may not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people.
31 Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
32 Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
Teach me that which I don’t see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33 Pho uNkulunkulu akuvuze ngokwentando yakho na, wena usala ukuphenduka? Kumele ukhethe wena, hatshi mina; ngakho ngitshela lokho okwaziyo.
Shall his recompense be as you desire, that you refuse it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore speak what you know.
34 Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
Men of understanding will tell me, yes, every wise man who hears me:
35 ‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
‘Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom.’
36 Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
I wish that Job were tried to the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.”
