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.
“Wo, lina yini elizibona kuyini abantu, njalo lolwazi luzakufa lani!
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you; yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Kodwa lami ngilayo ingqondo njengani; kalingedluli ngalutho. Ngubani ongazaziyo izinto zonke lezi?
4 I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, a man that called upon God, and He answered him; the just, the innocent man is a laughing-stock,
Sengiyinto yokuhlekisa ebanganini bami, lanxa ngacela kuNkulunkulu waphendula, inhlekisa sibili, kodwa ngilungile, ngimsulwa!
5 A contemptible brand in the thought of him that is at ease, a thing ready for them whose foot slippeth.
Abantu abahlezi kuhle bayakweyisa ukwehlelwa ngumnyama, bathi kuyimfanelo yalabo onyawo zabo sezitshelela.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure, in whatsoever God bringeth into their hand.
Amathente ezigebenga avikelekile, lalabo abamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, uNkulunkulu ulabo ezandleni zakhe.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee;
Kodwa ake ubuze izinyamazana, zizakufundisa, kumbe izinyoni zemoyeni, 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, loba uthi inhlanzi zolwandle zikwazise.
9 Who knoweth not among all these, that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
Yikuphi kwalezizinto okungaziyo na ukuthi yisandla sikaThixo esikwenzileyo lokhu?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. —
Esandleni sakhe kulempilo yazo zonke izidalwa lokuphefumula kwabantu bonke.
11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its food?
Indlebe kayiwahloli yini wonke amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla?
12 Is wisdom with aged men, and understanding in length of days? —
Angithi ukuhlakanipha kufunyanwa ebadaleni na? Angithi impilo ende iletha ukuzwisisa na?
13 With Him is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.
NgokukaNkulunkulu ukuhlakanipha lamandla; ukweluleka lokuzwisisa kungokwakhe.
14 Behold, He breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Lokho akubhidlizayo kungeke kwamiswa njalo; lowo amvalelayo ngeke avulelwe.
15 Behold, He withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; also He sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Angaze awavale amanzi, kuba lokoma; angawavulela kuba lomonakalo elizweni.
16 With Him is strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.
Angawakhe amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohliswayo lomkhohlisi ngabakhe bonke.
17 He leadeth counsellors away stripped, and judges maketh He fools.
Abeluleki uyabakhupha bahambe beze enze abehluleli babe yiziphukuphuku.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
Uyanyomula izibopho ezibotshwe ngamakhosi azibophe ngelembu ekhalweni.
19 He leadeth priests away stripped, and overthroweth the mighty.
Abaphristi uyabakhupha beze awagenqule amadoda abesithi asegxilile.
20 He removeth the speech of men of trust, and taketh away the sense of the elders.
Uyazithulisa izindebe zabeluleki abathenjiweyo asuse ulwazi lwabadala.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
Izikhulu uzihleka usulu abalamandla abathathele lawomandla.
22 He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Uyembula imfihlo ezenzeka emnyameni amathunzi azikileyo awalethe ekukhanyeni.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them; He enlargeth the nations, and leadeth them away.
Wenza izizwe zikhule, abesezidiliza; uyaziqhelisa izizwe, aphinde azichithe.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Abakhokheli basemhlabeni ubemuka ukuhlakanipha kwabo; ubenza bantule enkangala.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Bayaphumputha emnyameni kungelakukhanya; ubenza badiyazele njengezidakwa.”
