Job 12
1 Then Job answered,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 "No doubt, but you 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. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?
Kodwa lami ngilayo ingqondo njengani; kalingedluli ngalutho. Ngubani ongazaziyo izinto zonke lezi?
4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
Sengiyinto yokuhlekisa ebanganini bami, lanxa ngacela kuNkulunkulu waphendula, inhlekisa sibili, kodwa ngilungile, ngimsulwa!
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
Abantu abahlezi kuhle bayakweyisa ukwehlelwa ngumnyama, bathi kuyimfanelo yalabo onyawo zabo sezitshelela.
6 The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
Amathente ezigebenga avikelekile, lalabo abamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, uNkulunkulu ulabo ezandleni zakhe.
7 "But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
Kodwa ake ubuze izinyamazana, zizakufundisa, kumbe izinyoni zemoyeni, zizakutshela;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, loba uthi inhlanzi zolwandle zikwazise.
9 Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD has done this,
Yikuphi kwalezizinto okungaziyo na ukuthi yisandla sikaThixo esikwenzileyo lokhu?
10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all humankind?
Esandleni sakhe kulempilo yazo zonke izidalwa lokuphefumula kwabantu bonke.
11 Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Indlebe kayiwahloli yini wonke amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla?
12 With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
Angithi ukuhlakanipha kufunyanwa ebadaleni na? Angithi impilo ende iletha ukuzwisisa na?
13 "With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
NgokukaNkulunkulu ukuhlakanipha lamandla; ukweluleka lokuzwisisa kungokwakhe.
14 Look, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
Lokho akubhidlizayo kungeke kwamiswa njalo; lowo amvalelayo ngeke avulelwe.
15 Look, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
Angaze awavale amanzi, kuba lokoma; angawavulela kuba lomonakalo elizweni.
16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Angawakhe amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohliswayo lomkhohlisi ngabakhe bonke.
17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
Abeluleki uyabakhupha bahambe beze enze abehluleli babe yiziphukuphuku.
18 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
Uyanyomula izibopho ezibotshwe ngamakhosi azibophe ngelembu ekhalweni.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
Abaphristi uyabakhupha beze awagenqule amadoda abesithi asegxilile.
20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
Uyazithulisa izindebe zabeluleki abathenjiweyo asuse ulwazi lwabadala.
21 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
Izikhulu uzihleka usulu abalamandla abathathele lawomandla.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
Uyembula imfihlo ezenzeka emnyameni amathunzi azikileyo awalethe ekukhanyeni.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
Wenza izizwe zikhule, abesezidiliza; uyaziqhelisa izizwe, aphinde azichithe.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes 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. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Bayaphumputha emnyameni kungelakukhanya; ubenza badiyazele njengezidakwa.”
