< UJobe 28 >
1 Kulomgodi wesiliva lendawo lapho okucengwa khona igolide.
Surely there is for silver a source, And a place for the gold they refine;
2 Insimbi ithathwa emhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa emanyeleni.
Iron from the dust is taken, And [from] the firm stone brass.
3 Umuntu uyawuxotsha umnyama; uguduza ezingoxweni eziphansi kude edinga amanyele emnyameni othe bhuqe.
An end hath he set to darkness, And to all perfection he is searching, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
4 Khatshana kwezindawo zabantu ugebha umgodi, ezindaweni lapho okungafiki nyawo lwamuntu; khatshana kwabantu uyalenga, azunguzeke.
A stream hath broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, from man they wandered.
5 Umhlaba, okuphuma kuwo ukudla, uyaguquka ngaphansi ingathi utshiswe ngomlilo;
The earth! from it cometh forth bread, 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 hath dust of gold.
7 Kakukho nyoni edla inyama eyaziyo leyondlela efihlekileyo, kakulalihlo laluphi ukhozi oselwake lwayibona.
A path — not known it hath a ravenous fowl, Nor scorched it hath an eye of the kite,
8 Izilo ezizithembileyo kazilubeki unyawo kuyo, njalo kakulasilwane esizingela khona.
Nor trodden it have the sons of pride, Not passed over it hath the fierce lion.
9 Isandla somuntu yiso esihlasela idwala eliyinsengetshe siveze obala impande zezintaba.
Against the flint he sent forth his hand, He overturned from the root mountains.
10 Uyaligubha idwala angene; ilihlo lakhe liwabone wonke amagugu alo.
Among rocks, brooks he hath cleaved, And every precious thing hath his eye seen.
11 Uyathungatha lapho okudabuka khona imifula aveze obala izinto ezifihlekileyo.
From overflowing floods he hath bound, And the hidden thing bringeth out [to] light.
12 Kodwa ukuhlakanipha kungafunyanwa ngaphi na? Kuhlala ngaphi na ukuzwisisa?
And the wisdom — whence is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kakuzwisisi ukuqakatheka kwakho; kakufunyanwa elizweni labaphilayo.
Man hath 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 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.
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.
Not equal it do gold and crystal, 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.
Not equal it doth the topaz of Cush, With pure gold it is not valued.
20 Pho kuvela ngaphi ukuhlakanipha na? Kuhlala ngaphi ukuzwisisa?
And the wisdom — whence doth it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
21 Kufihliwe emehlweni ento yonke ephilayo, kucatshisiwe lakuzo izinyoni zasemoyeni.
It hath been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the fowl of the heavens It hath 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 hath understood its way, And He hath known its place.
24 ngoba uyayikhangela imikhawulo yomhlaba akubone konke okungaphansi kwamazulu.
For He to the ends of the earth doth look, Under the whole heavens He doth see,
25 Wathi emisa umfutho womoya, elinganisa isimo samanzi,
To make for the wind a weight, And the waters He meted out 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 hath seen and declareth it, He hath prepared it, and also searched it out,
28 Wathi emuntwini, “Ukumesaba uThixo yikho ukuhlakanipha, lokuxwaya ububi yikho ukuzwisisa.”
And He saith to man: — 'Lo, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.'