Job 24

UJobe Uqhubeka Ekhuluma

1“Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na?
Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
2Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane;
bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
3Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane,
bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni
bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
5Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala,
abayanga babhudula ukudla;
egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
6Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini
badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
7Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke;
kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
8Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni
bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
9Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni;
usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
10Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu;
bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
11Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni;
bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
12Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni,
lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.

13Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya,
abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya
loba ukuhlala kuzo.
14Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile
isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo;
ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
15Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa;
sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’
sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.
16Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu,
kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini;
kabakufuni ukukhanya.
17Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo;
bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.

18Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi;
esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe,
ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
19Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo,
kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono.
20Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa,
impethu zizitike phezu kwabo;
abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa
kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
21Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana,
kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
22Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe.
Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
23Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile,
kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
24Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale;
bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye;
bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.

25Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga
alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”