UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide elicolekileyo, njalo lentengo yakho ingeke yalinganiswa ngesiliva.
Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
