UJobe 28
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Though there is, for silver, a vein, and a place for the gold they refine;
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron, out of the ore, is taken, and, stone, poureth out copper;
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
An end, hath one set to the darkness, and, into every extremity, is, he, making search, for the stone of darkness and death-shade;
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
He hath sunken a shaft, away from the inhabitants; Places forsaken by the foot, they hang down, away from men, sway to and fro;
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
As for the earth, out of it, cometh forth bread, and, under it, is upturned, as it were fire;
6 amasafire amatshe amahle ayaphuma emadwaleni, uthuli lwawo lugcwele igolide.
The place of sapphires, are the stones thereof, and it hath, nuggets of gold: —
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
A path, the vulture hath not discerned, nor hath the eye of the hawk scanned it;
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
Ravenous beasts have not made a track thereof, neither hath the lion marched thereon:
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
Upon the flint, hath he thrust forth his hand, He hath turned up mountains by the roots;
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
Among the rocks, hath he cut open streams, and, every precious thing, hath his eye seen:
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
From trickling, he restraineth, rivers, and, some hidden thing, is he bringing out to light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
Yet where can, Wisdom, be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Mortal knoweth not the way thereof, neither can it be found in the land of the living;
14 Phansi ekujuleni kuthi, “Kakukho kimi”; ulwandle luthi, “Kangilakho mina.”
The resounding deep, hath said, It is not in me! And, the sea, hath said, It is not with me!
15 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide elicolekileyo, njalo lentengo yakho ingeke yalinganiswa ngesiliva.
Pure gold cannot be given in its stead, neither can silver he weighed as the value thereof;
16 Kungeke kwathengwa ngegolide lase-Ofiri, loba nge-onikisi kumbe isafire.
It cannot be put into the scales against the gold of Ophir, with costly onyx, or sapphire;
17 Kungazake kulinganiswe legolide loba amatshe akhazimulayo, njalo kakuzuzwa ngemiceciso yegolide.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can, the exchange thereof, be a vessel of pure gold,
18 Amatshe amahle ekhorali lejaspa lawo kawabalwa lapha; intengo yokuhlakanipha ingaphezulu kwamarubhi.
Coral or crystal, cannot be mentioned, Yea, a possession, is wisdom, above red coral;
19 Ithophazi yaseKhushi ngeke ilinganiswe lakho; ngeke kuthengwe langegolide elicolekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, Against purest gold, can it not be weighed.
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.
Seeing it hath been hid from the eyes of every living thing, and, from the bird of the heavens, hath it been concealed?
22 INcithakalo loKufa kuthi, “Amahungahunga akho yiwo kuphela esiwezwayo.”
Destruction and death, have said, With our ears, have we heard the report thereof!
23 UNkulunkulu uyayizwisisa indlela yakho njalo nguye yedwa okwaziyo lapho okuhlala khona,
GOD, understandeth the way thereof, and, he, discerneth the place thereof;
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For, he, unto the ends of the earth, directeth his look, under all the heavens, he seeth;
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
Making, for the wind, a weight, and, the waters, he proved by measure,
26 wathi ebeka umthetho wezulu elinayo lendlela yezulu elilesiphepho,
When he made, for the rain, a decree, and a way for the lightning of thunders,
27 wasekukhangela ukuhlakanipha wakuhlola butsha; wakukholwa wakuqinisa, wakulinga ukuthi kuqinile.
Then, saw he it, and declared it, He settled it, yea also he searched it out;
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And said to the son of earth, Lo! the reverence of the Lord, that, is wisdom, and, to avoid evil, is understanding.
