UJobe 38
1 UThixo wasekhuluma loJobe ephakathi kwesiphepho. Wathi:
And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2 “Ngubani na lowo odunga amacebo ami ngamazwi okungazi?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Qina njengendoda; ngizakubuza, lawe uzangiphendula.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; and I will demand of thee, and inform thou me.
4 Wawungaphi lapho ngibeka izisekelo zomhlaba na? Ngitshela nxa uqedisisa.
Where wast thou when I founded the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Ngubani owamisa izilinganiso zawo na? Phela angithi uyazi! Ngubani owayidonsayo intambo yokulinganisa kuwo na?
Who set the measures thereof — if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?
6 Izinsika zawo zamiswa phezu kwani na, loba ngubani owamisa ilitshe lawo lekhoneni na
Whereupon were the foundations thereof sunken? or who laid its corner-stone,
7 lapho izinkanyezi zokusa zazihlabelela kanyekanye lezingilosi zonke zamemeza ngentokozo?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Ngubani owavalela ulwandle ngemva kwezivalo lapho selufohla esiswini na,
And who shut up the sea with doors, when it burst forth, issuing out of the womb?
9 lapho ngisenza amayezi aba yisembatho salo na ngalugoqela ngomnyama omkhulu,
When I made the cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it;
10 lapho ngalubekela imikhawulo ngamisa iminyango yalo lemigoqo endaweni yayo,
When I cut out for it my boundary, and set bars and doors,
11 lapho engathi, ‘Ungeza uze ufike lapha kodwa ungedluli; kulapha amagagasi akho azigqajayo aphelela khona?’
And said, Hitherto shalt thou come and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Sewake wabekela ikuseni umthetho na, loba watshengisa ukusa indawo yakho
Hast thou since thy days commanded the morning? hast thou caused the dawn to know its place,
13 ukuba kuphakamise umhlaba ngemiphetho kuthintithe ababi abakuwo?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 Umhlaba ubumbeka isimo njengebumba ufakwe uphawu; imibala yawo ikhanye ithi bha njengelembu.
It is changed like the signet-clay; and [all things] stand forth as in a garment:
15 Ababi bayacitshelwa ukukhanya, lengalo yabo ephakanyisiweyo iyephulwa.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
16 Sewake wahamba emithonjeni yolwandle na loba wahamba ezingoxweni zenziki yalo na?
Hast thou entered as far as the springs of the sea? and hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Amasango okufa aseke abonakaliswa kuwe na? Usuke wawabona amasango ethunzi lokufa na?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? and hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Ubuqedisisile na ubukhulu bobubanzi bomhlaba? Ngitshela nxa ukwazi konke lokhu.
Hath thine understanding compassed the breadths of the earth? Declare if thou knowest it all.
19 Yiphi indlela eya ekhaya elihlala ukukhanya na? Ubumnyama bona buhlala ngaphi?
Where is the way to where light dwelleth? and the darkness, where is its place,
20 Ungakusa ezindaweni zakho na? Uyazazi izindlela eziya emizini yazo na?
That thou shouldest take it to its bound, and that thou shouldest know the paths to its house?
21 Ye uyakwazi, ngoba wawuvele usuzelwe! Usuphile iminyaka yonke le!
Thou knowest, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Sewake wangena eziphaleni zikangqwaqwane loba wabona iziphala zesiqhotho na,
Hast thou entered into the storehouses of the snow, and hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 engizilindisele izikhathi zohlupho, insuku zempi lokuhlasela na?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of battle and war?
24 Ingaphi indlela eya esigodlweni sokwaba umbane, loba indawo yokuhlakaza umoya wempumalanga phezu komhlaba na?
By what way is the light parted, [and] the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Ngubani ogubhe intshukuntshu yezihlambo zezulu, lendlela yomdumo wesiphepho;
Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for the thunder's flash;
26 ukuthelezela ilizwe elingahlali muntu, inkangala okungelamuntu kuyo,
To cause it to rain on the earth, where no one is; on the wilderness wherein there is not a man;
27 ukusuthisa ilizwe elilugwadule kulenze lihlume utshani na?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground], and to cause the sprout of the grass to spring forth?
28 Izulu elinayo liloyise na? Ngubani onguyise wamathonsi amazolo na?
Hath the rain a father? or who begetteth the drops of dew?
29 Ngesikabani isisu esizala iliqhwa na? Ngubani ozala umtshazo ovela phezulu na
Out of whose womb cometh the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who bringeth it forth?
30 lapho amanzi abalukhuni njengelitshe, lapho iphezulu yolwandle ijiyile?
When the waters lie hidden as in stone, and the face of the deep holdeth fast together.
31 Ungasibopha na isiLimela lesi esihle? Ungazithukulula yini izintambo zeziNja?
Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Ungawuletha na uMthala ngesikhathi sawo loba ukhuphe inkanyezi ethiwa yiNgulube lemidlwane yayo?
Dost thou bring forth the constellations each in its season? or dost thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Uyayazi imithetho yasezulwini na? Ungawakha yini umbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? dost thou determine their rule over the earth?
34 Ungawamemeza yini amayezi uthi akunethise ngesihlambo samanzi?
Dost thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that floods of waters may cover thee?
35 Uyakuthuma yini ukuphazima kombane? Uyabika kuwe yini uthi, ‘Ngilapha’?
Dost thou send forth lightnings that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?
36 Ngubani owapha inhliziyo ukuhlakanipha kumbe owapha ingqondo ukuzwisisa na?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Ngubani ololwazi lokubala amayezi na? Ngubani ongagenqula amaqhaga asezulwini na
Who numbereth the clouds with wisdom? or who poureth out the bottles of the heavens,
38 nxa uthuli seluqina lamagade omhlabathi esebumbene?
When the dust runneth as into a molten mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Uyasizingelela na isilwanekazi ukudla kwaso, uyiqede indlala yezilwane
Dost thou hunt the prey for the lioness, and dost thou satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 lapho zilele ezikhundleni zazo kumbe zicwathile ezixukwini?
When they crouch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the thicket to lie in wait?
41 Ngubani opha iwabayi ukudla lapho amatsiyane alo ekhala kuNkulunkulu ezulazula ehayila ngendlala na?”
Who provideth for the raven his food, when his young ones cry unto God, [and] they wander for lack of meat?
