UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
“Surely there is a source for silver, And a place for the gold they refine;
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron is taken from the dust, And bronze [from] the firm stone.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
He has set an end to darkness, And he is searching to all perfection, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
A stream has broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, they wandered from man.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
The earth! Bread comes forth from it, And its under-part is turned like fire.
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it has dust of gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, The fierce lion has not passed over it.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
He sent forth his hand against the flint, He overturned mountains from the root.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, And his eye has seen every precious thing.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
He has bound overflowing rivers, And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man has not known its arrangement, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The deep has said, It [is] not in me, And the sea has said, It is not with me.
15 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide elicolekileyo, njalo lentengo yakho ingeke yalinganiswa ngesiliva.
Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed—its price.
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Gold and crystal do not equal it, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Cush does not equal it, It is not valued with pure gold.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens It has been hidden.
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction 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 has understood its way, And He has known its place.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For He looks to the ends of the earth, He sees under the whole heavens,
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
To make a weight for the wind, And He meted out the waters in measure.
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then He has seen and declares it, He has prepared it, and also searched it out,
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”
