Job 12
1 And Job answered and said,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 Truly ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you!
Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
3 I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; and who knoweth not such things as these?
Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
4 I am to be one that is a derision to his friend, I who call upon God, and whom he will answer: a derision is the just upright [man].
Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
5 He that is ready to stumble with the foot is a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
6 The tents of desolators are in peace, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth.
Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowl 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 unto thee.
Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
9 Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath 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 spirit of all flesh of man.
Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food?
Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
12 With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
13 With him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
14 Behold, he breaketh down, and it is not built again; he shutteth up a man, and there is no opening.
Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; and he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
16 With him is strength and effectual knowledge; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
17 He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools;
Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
18 He weakeneth the government of kings, and bindeth their loins with a fetter;
Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
19 He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty;
Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
20 He depriveth of speech the trusty, and taketh away the judgment of the elders;
Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
21 He poureth contempt upon nobles, and slackeneth the girdle of the mighty;
Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out into light the shadow of death;
Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; he spreadeth out the nations, and bringeth them in;
Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
24 He taketh away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a pathless waste.
Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunkard.
Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
