Job 28
1 Though there is, for silver, a vein, and a place for the gold they refine;
Isibili kukhona umthapho wesiliva, lendawo yegolide abalicengayo.
2 Iron, out of the ore, is taken, and, stone, poureth out copper;
Insimbi ithathwa enhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa elitsheni.
3 An end, hath one set to the darkness, and, into every extremity, is, he, making search, for the stone of darkness and death-shade;
Umisela umnyama umngcele, udingisisa kuze kube sekupheleleni konke, amatshe obumnyama lethunzi lokufa.
4 He hath sunken a shaft, away from the inhabitants; Places forsaken by the foot, they hang down, away from men, sway to and fro;
Uqhekeza umgodi khatshana lalapho okuhlala khona abantu, lapho abakhohlwe khona lunyawo; bayalenga bejikajika khatshana labantu.
5 As for the earth, out of it, cometh forth bread, and, under it, is upturned, as it were fire;
Umhlaba, kuphuma ukudla kuwo, langaphansi kwawo kuphenduka kwangathi ngumlilo.
6 The place of sapphires, are the stones thereof, and it hath, nuggets of gold: —
Amatshe awo ayindawo yesafire, njalo ulothuli lwegolide.
7 A path, the vulture hath not discerned, nor hath the eye of the hawk scanned it;
Inyoni edla inyama kayiyazi indlela, lelihlo lelinqe kaliyibonanga.
8 Ravenous beasts have not made a track thereof, neither hath the lion marched thereon:
Imidlwane yokuziqhenyayo kayiyinyathelanga, isilwane kasihambanga kuyo.
9 Upon the flint, hath he thrust forth his hand, He hath turned up mountains by the roots;
Uyelula isandla sakhe elitsheni elilukhuni, uyagenqula izintaba ezimpandeni.
10 Among the rocks, hath he cut open streams, and, every precious thing, hath his eye seen:
Aqhekeze imisele emadwaleni, lelihlo lakhe libona konke okuligugu.
11 From trickling, he restraineth, rivers, and, some hidden thing, is he bringing out to light.
Uyabopha izifula zingathonti, lokufihlakeleyo ukukhuphela ekukhanyeni.
12 Yet where can, Wisdom, be found? And where is the place of understanding?
Kodwa inhlakanipho ingatholakala ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
13 Mortal knoweth not the way thereof, neither can it be found in the land of the living;
Umuntu kalazi ixabiso lakho, njalo kakutholakali elizweni labaphilayo.
14 The resounding deep, hath said, It is not in me! And, the sea, hath said, It is not with me!
Ukujula kuthi: Kakukho kimi. Lolwandle luthi: Kakulami.
15 Pure gold cannot be given in its stead, neither can silver he weighed as the value thereof;
Igolide elihle lingenikwe endaweni yakho, lesiliva singelinganiselwe intengo yakho.
16 It cannot be put into the scales against the gold of Ophir, with costly onyx, or sapphire;
Kungelingane legolide leOfiri, le-onikse eligugu, lesafire.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can, the exchange thereof, be a vessel of pure gold,
Igolide lekristali kungelingane lakho, futhi kungenaniswe ngesitsha segolide elicwengekileyo.
18 Coral or crystal, cannot be mentioned, Yea, a possession, is wisdom, above red coral;
Ikorali lekristali kakuyikukhunjulwa, ngoba intengo yenhlakanipho ingaphezu kwamatshe aligugu.
19 The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, Against purest gold, can it not be weighed.
Itopazi leEthiyophiya lingelinganiswe lakho, kungelingane legolide elicwengekileyo.
20 Whence then cometh, wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
Pho, inhlakanipho ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
21 Seeing it hath been hid from the eyes of every living thing, and, from the bird of the heavens, hath it been concealed?
Ngoba kusithekile emehlweni abo bonke abaphilayo, kwafihlwa ezinyonini zamazulu.
22 Destruction and death, have said, With our ears, have we heard the report thereof!
Ukubhujiswa lokufa kuthi: Sizwile ngendlebe zethu umbiko wakho.
23 GOD, understandeth the way thereof, and, he, discerneth the place thereof;
UNkulunkulu uyayiqedisisa indlela yakho, njalo yena uyayazi indawo yakho.
24 For, he, unto the ends of the earth, directeth his look, under all the heavens, he seeth;
Ngoba yena uyakhangela kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba, abone ngaphansi kwawo wonke amazulu.
25 Making, for the wind, a weight, and, the waters, he proved by measure,
Esenzela umoya isisindo, walinganisa amanzi ngesilinganiso.
26 When he made, for the rain, a decree, and a way for the lightning of thunders,
Lapho esenzela izulu isimiso, lombane wokuduma indlela.
27 Then, saw he it, and declared it, He settled it, yea also he searched it out;
Ngalesosikhathi wakubona, walandisa ngakho; wakulungisa, yebo, wakuhlolisisa.
28 And said to the son of earth, Lo! the reverence of the Lord, that, is wisdom, and, to avoid evil, is understanding.
Wasesithi emuntwini: Khangela, ukwesaba iNkosi, lokhu kuyinhlakanipho, lokusuka ebubini kuyikuqedisisa.
