Job 24

1 “Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezozinsuku na?

2 Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.

3 Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.

4 Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bacindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.

5 Njengabobabhemi benkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.

6 Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.

7 Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.

8 Bagxanxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.

9 Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.

10 Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izinyanda zamabele kodwa belambile.

11 Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.

12 Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.

13 “Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zakho lokhokukhanya.

14 Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebengu siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.

15 Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa; sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’ sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.

16 Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.

17 Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.

18 “Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe sithukiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.

19 Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqoqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono.

20 Isizalo siyabakhohlwa, izimpethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.

21 Bacindezela owesifazana oyinyumba ongelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.

22 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.

23 Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.

24 Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.

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