Joba 28
1 Fa misy tany fihadiana volafotsy, ary misy tany fahazoana volamena, izay diovina.
There are silver mines and places where gold is refined.
2 Ny vy dia alaina avy amin’ ny tany, ary ny varahina arendrika avy amin’ ny vato.
Iron is extracted from the earth and copper is smelted from its ore.
3 Ny mpihady vola mampisava ny maizina ka mizaha hatramin’ ny faran’ ny zavatra rehetra ao, dia ny vaton’ ny aizim-pito sy ny aloky ny fahafatesana;
Miners take lamps into the darkness underground and search for ore as far as they can go in the shadows and the gloom.
4 Mihady lavaka mihalavitra amin’ izay itoeran’ olona izy ka tsy ampoizin’ ny tongotra akory, ary mihantona sy mitsingevaheva any ambany lavitra ny olona izy.
They dig a mineshaft far from where people live or anyone ever goes. They swing from ropes that hang in the pits.
5 Ny tany no ihavian’ ny hanina; Ary ny ao ambaniny dia avadika tahaka ny afo.
Bread comes from the earth, but underneath it looks as if it has been turned upside-down by fire.
6 Fitoeran’ ny safira ny vatony, ary misy akoram-bolamena ao aminy
Here the rocks contain lapis lazuli and the dust contains gold.
7 Làlana tsy fantatry ny vorona mpihaza ary tsy hitan’ ny mason’ ny voromahery,
No birds of prey can see these paths, no falcon's eye can perceive.
8 Sady tsy nodiavin’ ny zanaky ny bibi-dia ary tsy mba nalehan’ ny liona masiaka.
No wild beasts have passed that way; the lion has not walked there.
9 Maninjitra ny tànany amin’ ny vatokaranana ireo ary mamadika ny tendrombohitra hatramin’ ny fotony;
Miners attack the hard rock; they overturn the roots of mountains.
10 Ny vatolampy tatahany hatao lalan-drano, ary izay zava-tsoa rehetra dia hitan’ ny masony avokoa.
They tunnel through the rock, looking carefully for every precious stone.
11 Tampenany ny lalan-drano mba tsy hisy mitete. Ary izay zava-miafina dia avoakany ho amin’ ny mazava.
They dam the sources of the rivers, and bring to light what is hidden.
12 Fa aiza kosa no hahitana ny fahendrena? ary aiza no fitoeran’ ny fahalalana?
But where can wisdom be found? Where is the place to gain understanding?
13 Tsy misy zanak’ olombelona mahalala ny vidiny, ary tsy hita eo amin’ ny tanin’ ny velona izy.
Human beings do not know the way to wisdom; it is not found among the living.
14 Hoy ny lalina: Tsy ato anatiko izy; Ary, tsy ato amiko izy, hoy ny ranomasina.
The deep waters say, ‘It's not here,’ and the sea says, ‘It's not here either.’
15 Ny volamena tsara tsy mahatakalo azy, ary ny volafotsy tsy azo lanjaina ho vidiny;
It cannot be bought with gold; nor can it be purchased with silver.
16 Ny volamena avy any Ofira tsy ampy ho tombany, na ny beryla saro-bidy sy ny safira aza.
Its value cannot be measured, even with the gold of Ophir; it is more precious than onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Ny volamena sy ny fitaratra tsy azo ampitahaina aminy, ary tsy azo takalozana firavaka tena volamena izy.
Gold or fine glass cannot compare with wisdom; it cannot be exchanged for gold jewelry.
18 Tsy tokony hotsaroana akory ny voahangy sy ny vato krystaly, fa ny fahazoana fahendrena dia mihoatra noho ny voahangy.
Coral and crystal are not worth mentioning; the price of wisdom is far above rubies.
19 Ny topaza avy any Etiopia dia tsy azo ampitahaina aminy, ary tsy mahatakalo azy ny tena volamena tsara
Topaz from Ethiopia can't compare with it; it cannot be bought with the purest gold.
20 Dia avy aiza ary ny fahendrena? Ary aiza no fitoeran’ ny fahalalana?
So where does wisdom come from? Where is the place to gain understanding?
21 Miafina amin’ ny mason’ ny velona rehetra izany ary takona amin’ ny voro-manidina.
Wisdom is hidden from the sight of all living things, even the birds of the air cannot see it.
22 Hoy Abadona sy Ifahafatesana: Ny sofinay ihany no nandrenesany ny filazana azy.
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We've only heard a rumor of it.’
23 Andriamanitra ihany no mahalala ny lalana ho any aminy, ary Izy no mahafantatra ny itoerany;
Only God understands the path to wisdom; he knows where it is found.
24 Fa Izy no mitsinjo hatramin’ ny faran’ ny tany ary mahatazana manerana izao ambanin’ ny lanitra rehetra izao,
For he looks to the very end of the earth; he sees everything under heaven.
25 Ka manendry ny lanjan’ ny rivotra ary mamatra ny rano amin’ ny famarana.
He decided how strong the wind should blow, and regulated the waters.
26 Raha nanao lalana ho an’ ny ranonorana Izy sy lalana halehan’ ny helatry ny kotrokorana,
He set a limit for the rain and made a path for the lightning.
27 Dia nahita ka nanambara azy Izy; Eny, nanorina azy Izy sady namantatra azy;
Then he considered wisdom. He examined it, gave it his approval, and declared it good.
28 Dia hoy Izy tamin’ ny olona: Indro, ny fahatahorana ny Tompo no fahendrena. Ary ny fialàna amin’ ny ratsy no fahalalana.
He said to humankind, ‘To reverence the Lord is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”
