UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The abyss declares, “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.
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
