UJobe 22
1 Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 Umuntu angaba losizo kuNkulunkulu yini, ngoba ohlakaniphileyo elusizo kuye ngokwakhe?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Kuyintokozo yini kuSomandla ukuthi ulungile? Kumbe inzuzo kuye ukuthi uphelelise indlela zakho?
For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4 Uzakusola yini ngenxa yokwesaba kwakho? Uzangena lawe kusahlulelo.
Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgment with you?
5 Ububi bakho kabubukhulu yini, lezono zakho kazilakuphela?
Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6 Ngoba uthethe isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho, wahlubula abanqunu izigqoko.
And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 Kawumnathisanga amanzi odiniweyo, lolambileyo umgodlele ukudla.
Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 Kodwa umuntu olengalo, umhlaba ungowakhe, lowemukeleka ebusweni wahlala kuwo.
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 Uxotshile abafelokazi bengelalutho, lengalo zezintandane zichotshoziwe.
But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Ngakho-ke imijibila ikuhanqile, lovalo luhle lwakwesabisa,
Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11 kumbe ubumnyama ukuze ungaboni, lesikhukhula samanzi sikusibekele.
The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12 UNkulunkulu kakho yini engqongeni yamazulu? Bona-ke ingqonga yezinkanyezi, ukuthi ziphakeme kangakanani.
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Kanti uthi: UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela yini engemuva komnyama onzima?
And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Amayezi amnyama ayisisibekelo sakhe ukuze angaboni, uhamba esigombolozini samazulu.
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 Usunanzelele indlela endala yini abantu ababi abanyathela kuyo?
Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 Abahluthunwa kungakabi yisikhathi; uzamcolo wathululwa phezu kwesisekelo sabo.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 Abathi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi. LoSomandla wayenzeni kubo?
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 Kanti yena wayegcwalise izindlu zabo ngokuhle; kodwa icebo labakhohlakeleyo likhatshana lami.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona bathokoze, lomsulwa ubahleka usulu.
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 Isibili isitha sethu sichithiwe, lomlilo uqede insali yabo.
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 Ake wejwayelane laye, ube lokuthula, ngalokho okuhle kuzakuza kuwe.
Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22 Ake wemukele umlayo ovela emlonyeni wakhe, ubeke amazwi akhe enhliziyweni yakho.
And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Uba ubuyela kuSomandla, uzakwakhiwa, ususe okubi khatshana lamathente akho.
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24 Ubusubeka igolide lakho othulini, legolide leOfiri elitsheni lezifula.
You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 Ngakho uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva sakho esinengi.
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Ngoba ngalesosikhathi uzazithokozisa ngoSomandla, uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, akuzwe, ukhokhe izifungo zakho.
And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
28 Uzaquma-ke udaba, luqiniseke kuwe, lokukhanya kukhanye endleleni zakho.
And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29 Nxa behliselwe phansi, ubususithi: Phezulu! Abesesindisa othobekileyo ngamehlo.
Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 Uzamkhulula ongemsulwa; njalo ukhululwa ngokuhlanzeka kwezandla zakho.
He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
