UJobe 8
1 Wasephendula uBilidadi umShuhi wathi:
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 Koze kube nini ukhuluma lezizinto, lamazwi omlomo wakho abe ngumoya olamandla?
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 UNkulunkulu uyahlanekela isahlulelo yini? Kumbe uSomandla uyahlanekela ukulunga yini?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Uba abantwana bakho bonile kuye, yena usebalahlile emandleni esiphambeko sabo;
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 uba uhlambulukile, uqotho; isibili khathesi ubezavuka ngenxa yakho, aphumelelise indawo yokuhlala yokulunga kwakho.
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 Lanxa ukuqala kwakho bekukuncinyane, kube kanti isiphetho sakho sizakwanda kakhulu.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 Ngoba ake ubuze esizukulwaneni sakuqala, uzilungisele isidingo saboyise.
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 Ngoba singabezolo, njalo kasazi, ngoba insuku zethu emhlabeni ziyisithunzi.
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Kabayikukufundisa yini, bakutshele, bakhuphe amazwi enhliziyweni yabo?
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 Imihlanga ingakhula lapho okungelaxhaphozi khona yini? Ibhuma likhule lapho okungelamanzi khona?
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 Zinjalo indlela zabo bonke abamkhohlwayo uNkulunkulu, lethemba lomzenzisi lizabhubha.
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 Othemba lakhe lizaqunywa, lokuthemba kwakhe kuyibulembu besayobe.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 Uyeyama endlini yakhe, kodwa kayimi; ubambelela kiyo, kodwa kayihlali.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 Uluhlaza phambi kwelanga, lamahlumela akhe aphuma esivandeni sakhe.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 Impande zakhe zithandele enqunjini; ubona indawo yamatshe.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 Uba emchitha endaweni yakhe, izamphika ithi: Kangizange ngikubone.
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Khangela, le yintokozo yendlela yakhe; njalo kuzakhula abanye emhlabathini.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 Khangela, uNkulunkulu kayikumlahla opheleleyo, kabambi isandla sabenzi bobubi.
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 Abakuzondayo bazakwembeswa ngenhloni, lethente lababi lingabi khona.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
