UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
He sets an end to darkness, and searches out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
The flood breaks out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
As for the earth, out of it comes bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it has dust of gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
There is a path which no fowl knows, and which the vulture's eye has not seen:
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
He puts forth his hand upon the rock; he overturns the mountains by the roots.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and his eye sees every precious thing.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
He binds the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid brings he forth to light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man knows not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The depth says, 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.
It cannot be got for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
Whence then comes wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
God understands the way thereof, and he knows the place thereof.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees under the whole heaven;
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
To make the weight for the winds; and he weights the waters by measure.
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
