Job 12
1 Then Job answered and said,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?
Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
4 I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.
Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.
Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.
Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
9 Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,
Ngubani ongaziyo phakathi kwakho konke lokhu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sikwenzile lokhu?
10 in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
11 Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
12 With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
13 With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
14 Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
15 Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
17 He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.
Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
18 He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.
Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
20 He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
21 He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.
Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
