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.
Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
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 perfect man is a laughing-stock.
Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
5 In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
6 The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 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 LORD 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 breath of all mankind.
Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
11 Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
12 With aged men 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 cannot be built again; he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
15 Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
16 With him is strength and effectual working; 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 looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
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 removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
22 He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
23 He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
24 He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
