Job 12
1 And Job made answer and said,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
3 But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
4 It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
5 In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
6 There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
7 But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
8 Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
9 Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done 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 flesh of man.
Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
11 Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
12 Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
13 With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
14 Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
15 Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
16 With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
17 He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
18 He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
19 He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
20 He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
21 He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
22 Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
23 Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
24 He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
25 They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
