Joba 28
1 Toe ao ty lakato fitsikaraham-bolafoty naho ty toem-pitranaham-bolamena.
For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
2 Akareñe an-debok’ ao ty viñe, le tranaheñe am-bongam-bato ty torisike.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
3 Fongore’e ty ieñe, tsikarahe’e pak’ am-para-piefera’e ao ty vato, an-kamoromoroñañe naho an-talinjon-kavilasy ao.
An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.
4 Anokafa’e lalam-pigodañañe, lavi-pimoneñañe; andikofam-pandia, miradorado ao, mitsikadròtse lavits’ ondaty.
He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
5 Ty tane toy, ama’e ty iboaha’ ty mahakama; ambane’e ao hoe trobotroboen’ afo.
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 Angalan-tsafira o vato’eo, naho volamena an-debo’e ao.
Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
7 Tsy hay o voro-pamaokeo i lalañey; tsy trea’ ty maso’ i hitikitikey.
[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
8 Tsy nilià’ o bibi-ly mpireñetseo; mbe tsy nipiapia ambone’e eo ty liona.
[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
9 Ahiti’e mb’amo vato-pilakeo ty fità’e vaho avalitaboa’e reke-bahatse o vohitseo.
To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
10 Kaohe’e amo vatoo ty talàha vaho oni-pihaino’e ze atao vara.
Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
11 Sebaña’e o torahañeo tsy hiorike; aboa’e mb’an-kazavàñe o raha nikafitseo.
The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 Fe aia ty hahaoniñañe hihitse? Aia ka ty toe’ o hilalao?
But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Tsy fohi’ondaty ty vili’e, toe tsy tendrek’ an-tane’ o veloñeo.
Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
14 hoe i lalekey, Tsy amako atoa; le hoe i riakey, Tsy amako etoa.
The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
15 Tsy ikaloam-bolamena, vaho tsy andanjàm-bolafoty.
No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
16 Tsy añoharañe ami’ty volamena’ i Ofire, ndra an-tsohame sarotse ndra safira.
She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Tsy añirinkiriña’ ty volamena ndra ty kristaly, tsy tsalohem-panake volamena ki’e.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
18 Tsy ivolañañe ty vaton-driake ndra vato-soa; ambone’ o hangeo ty fikaloan-kihitse.
Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
19 Tsy oharañe ama’e ty pit-dae’ i Kose, tsy ibalibalihem-bolamena hiringiri’e.
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 Hirik’ aia arè o hihitseo? Vaho aia ty toe’ o hilalao?
But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Ie mikafits’ am-pihaino’ ze atao veloñe, vaho mietak’ amo voron-tiokeo.
Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
22 Hoe ty Tsikeokeoke naho i Havilasy: fa nahatsanon-talily aze o sofi’aio.
Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
23 Arofoanan’ Añahare i lala’ey, fohi’e ka i toe’ey.
God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
24 Jilove’e pak’ añ’olo’ ty tane toy, vazoho’e ze he’e ambanen-dikerañe ao.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
25 Ie nanolora’e lanja o tiokeo, vaho nanjara’e an-kapoake o ranoo;
When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
26 ie nafepè’e o orañeo, naho ty lala’ o helats’ampiñeo;
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
27 Le nivazohoe’e, nitseize’e; najado’e vaho tsinikara’e.
Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
28 Le hoe re am’ondatio, Inao: Ty fañeveñañe amy Talè, Izay ro hihitse; ty fisitahañe an-karatiañe ro hilala.
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
