UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
For there is a place for the silver, whence it comes, and a place for the gold, whence it is refined.
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
For iron comes out of the earth, and brass is hewn out like stone.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
He has set a bound to darkness, and he searches out every limit: a stone [is] darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
There is a cutting off the torrent by reason of dust: so they that forget the right way are weakened; they are removed from [among] men.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
[As for] the earth, out of it shall come bread: under it has been turned up as it were fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
Her stones are the place of the sapphire: and [her] dust [supplies] man with gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
[There is] a path, the fowl has not known it, neither has the eye of the vulture seen it:
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
neither have the sons of the proud trodden it, a lion has not passed upon it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
He has stretched forth his hand on the sharp [rock], and turned up mountains by the roots:
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
and he has interrupted the whirlpools of rivers, and mine eye has seen every precious thing.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
And he has laid bare the depths of rivers, and has brought his power to light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But whence has wisdom been discovered? and what is the place of knowledge?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
A mortal has not known its way, neither indeed has it been discovered among men.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The depth said, It is not in me: and the sea said, It is not with me.
15 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide elicolekileyo, njalo lentengo yakho ingeke yalinganiswa ngesiliva.
One shall not give fine gold instead of it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
Neither shall it be compared with gold of Sophir, with the precious onyx and sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Gold and crystal shall not be equalled to it, neither shall vessels of gold be its exchange.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
Coral and fine pearl shall not be mentioned: but do thou esteem wisdom above the most precious things.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equalled to it; it shall not be compared with pure gold.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
Whence then is wisdom found? and of what kind is the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
It has escaped the notice of every man, and has been hidden from the birds of the sky.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and Death said, We have heard the report of it.
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God has well ordered the way of it, and he knows the place of it.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For he surveys the whole [earth] under heaven, knowing the things in the earth:
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
all that he has made; the weight of the winds, the measures of the water.
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
When he made [them], thus he saw and numbered them, and made a way for the pealing of the thunder.
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then he saw it, and declared it: he prepared it [and] traced it out.
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And he said to man, Behold, godliness is wisdom: and to abstain from evil is understanding.
