Job 28
1 There are silver mines and places where gold is refined.
Isibili kukhona umthapho wesiliva, lendawo yegolide abalicengayo.
2 Iron is extracted from the earth and copper is smelted from its ore.
Insimbi ithathwa enhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa elitsheni.
3 Miners take lamps into the darkness underground and search for ore as far as they can go in the shadows and the gloom.
Umisela umnyama umngcele, udingisisa kuze kube sekupheleleni konke, amatshe obumnyama lethunzi lokufa.
4 They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.
Uqhekeza umgodi khatshana lalapho okuhlala khona abantu, lapho abakhohlwe khona lunyawo; bayalenga bejikajika khatshana labantu.
5 Bread comes from the earth, but underneath it looks as if it has been turned upside-down by fire.
Umhlaba, kuphuma ukudla kuwo, langaphansi kwawo kuphenduka kwangathi ngumlilo.
6 Here the rocks contain lapis lazuli and the dust contains gold.
Amatshe awo ayindawo yesafire, njalo ulothuli lwegolide.
7 No birds of prey can see these paths, no falcon's eye can perceive.
Inyoni edla inyama kayiyazi indlela, lelihlo lelinqe kaliyibonanga.
8 No wild beasts have passed that way; the lion has not walked there.
Imidlwane yokuziqhenyayo kayiyinyathelanga, isilwane kasihambanga kuyo.
9 Miners attack the hard rock; they overturn the roots of mountains.
Uyelula isandla sakhe elitsheni elilukhuni, uyagenqula izintaba ezimpandeni.
10 They tunnel through the rock, looking carefully for every precious stone.
Aqhekeze imisele emadwaleni, lelihlo lakhe libona konke okuligugu.
11 They dam the sources of the rivers, and bring to light what is hidden.
Uyabopha izifula zingathonti, lokufihlakeleyo ukukhuphela ekukhanyeni.
12 But where can wisdom be found? Where is the place to gain understanding?
Kodwa inhlakanipho ingatholakala ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
13 Human beings do not know the way to wisdom; it is not found among the living.
Umuntu kalazi ixabiso lakho, njalo kakutholakali elizweni labaphilayo.
14 The deep waters say, ‘It's not here,’ and the sea says, ‘It's not here either.’
Ukujula kuthi: Kakukho kimi. Lolwandle luthi: Kakulami.
15 It cannot be bought with gold; nor can it be purchased with silver.
Igolide elihle lingenikwe endaweni yakho, lesiliva singelinganiselwe intengo yakho.
16 Its value cannot be measured, even with the gold of Ophir; it is more precious than onyx or lapis lazuli.
Kungelingane legolide leOfiri, le-onikse eligugu, lesafire.
17 Gold or fine glass cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.
Igolide lekristali kungelingane lakho, futhi kungenaniswe ngesitsha segolide elicwengekileyo.
18 Coral and crystal are not worth mentioning; the price of wisdom is far above rubies.
Ikorali lekristali kakuyikukhunjulwa, ngoba intengo yenhlakanipho ingaphezu kwamatshe aligugu.
19 Topaz from Ethiopia can't compare with it; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.
Itopazi leEthiyophiya lingelinganiswe lakho, kungelingane legolide elicwengekileyo.
20 So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place to gain understanding?
Pho, inhlakanipho ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
21 Wisdom is hidden from the sight of all living things, even the birds of the air cannot see it.
Ngoba kusithekile emehlweni abo bonke abaphilayo, kwafihlwa ezinyonini zamazulu.
22 Abaddon and Death say, ‘We've only heard a rumor of it.’
Ukubhujiswa lokufa kuthi: Sizwile ngendlebe zethu umbiko wakho.
23 Only God understands the path to wisdom; he knows where it is found.
UNkulunkulu uyayiqedisisa indlela yakho, njalo yena uyayazi indawo yakho.
24 For he looks to the very end of the earth; he sees everything under heaven.
Ngoba yena uyakhangela kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba, abone ngaphansi kwawo wonke amazulu.
25 He decided how strong the wind should blow, and regulated the waters.
Esenzela umoya isisindo, walinganisa amanzi ngesilinganiso.
26 He set a limit for the rain and made a path for the lightning.
Lapho esenzela izulu isimiso, lombane wokuduma indlela.
27 Then he considered wisdom. He examined it, gave it his approval, and declared it good.
Ngalesosikhathi wakubona, walandisa ngakho; wakulungisa, yebo, wakuhlolisisa.
28 He said to humankind, ‘To reverence the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
Wasesithi emuntwini: Khangela, ukwesaba iNkosi, lokhu kuyinhlakanipho, lokusuka ebubini kuyikuqedisisa.
