Intetho yokuqala kaElifazi
1Wasusela uElifazi wakwaTeman, wathi,
2Kungákudinisa na, kwakulingwa ukubhekiswa ilizwi kuwe?
Engubani na onako ukuzibamba angathethi?
3Yabona, uthethise abaninzi,
Wazomeleza izandla eziwileyo;
4Ukuthetha kwakho kwabaphakamisa abakhubekayo,
Wawaqinisa amadolo agevegeve.
5Kungokunje into izé kuwe, wadinwa;
Ifike kuwe, wakhwankqiswa.
6Ukoyika kwakho uThixo asiyinqolonci yakho na?
Ithemba lakho alikukugqibelela kweendlela zakho na?
7Khawukhumbule, ngubani na owakha wadaka, emsulwa?
Kuphi na apho ke bathi shwaka khona abathe tye?
8Ngokubona endiboné ngako, abalima inkohlakalo,
Nabahlwayela ububi, bavuna kwabona.
9Badaka ngokuphefumla kukaThixo,
Baphela ngumoya womsindo wakhe.
10Ukugquma kwengonyama, nelizwi lebhavumayo,
Namazinyo eengonyama ezintsha ancothukile.
11Ingonyama iyatshabalala ngokuswela into yokuqwenga;
Amathole engonyamakazi achithakele.
12Ndìcothelwe lilizwi,
Indlebe yam yakuthabatha ukusebeza kwalo.
13Ezingcingangcingeni zasemibonisweni yobusuku,
Bakusindwa abantu bubuthongo obukhulu,
14Kwandikhawulela ukunkwantya nokuthuthumela,
Kwawankwantyisa amathambo am amaninzi.
15Kwathi phe umoya ebusweni bam,
Yaba namanwele inyama yam.
16Wema, andayinakana imbonakalo yawo;
Kwakho isimilo esithile phambi kwamehlo am;
Ndeva izwi elisebezayo, lisithi,
17Umntu ulilungisa na ngaphezu koThixo?
Uhlambululekile na umfo ngaphezu koMenzi wakhe?
18Yabona, àkakholwa ngabakhonzi bakhe,
Nezithunywa zakhe uthi zingábaphosisi;
19Bangabeka phi na ke abahlala ezindlwini zodaka,
Abasiseko siseluthulini,
Abatyunyuzwa njengamanundu?
20Kusa kuhlwe, beqotywa;
Badake kuphele, kungekho ugqalayo.
21Àbathi na, xa luthe lwancothulwa kubo uthàmbo lwentente,
Bafe bengalumkanga?
