Job 12
1 Then Job answered:
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!
Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
3 But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
5 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure— those who carry their god in their hands.
Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.
Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.
Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
Ngubani ongaziyo phakathi kwakho konke lokhu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sikwenzile lokhu?
10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.
Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?
Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.
Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.
Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.
Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.
Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
19 He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.
Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
20 He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.
Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
21 He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.
Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
23 He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.
Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.
Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
