UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The depth 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.
The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
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.
It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
Who made a weight for the winds and weighed the waters by measure.
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
