UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide elicolekileyo, njalo lentengo yakho ingeke yalinganiswa ngesiliva.
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
