UJobe 38
1 UThixo wasekhuluma loJobe ephakathi kwesiphepho. Wathi:
Then the LORD 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; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Wawungaphi lapho ngibeka izisekelo zomhlaba na? Ngitshela nxa uqedisisa.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Ngubani owamisa izilinganiso zawo na? Phela angithi uyazi! Ngubani owayidonsayo intambo yokulinganisa kuwo na?
Who hath laid the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Izinsika zawo zamiswa phezu kwani na, loba ngubani owamisa ilitshe lawo lekhoneni na
Upon what are the foundations of it fastened? 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,
Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?
9 lapho ngisenza amayezi aba yisembatho salo na ngalugoqela ngomnyama omkhulu,
When I made a cloud its garment, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,
10 lapho ngalubekela imikhawulo ngamisa iminyango yalo lemigoqo endaweni yayo,
And broke up for it my decreed [place], 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, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.
12 Sewake wabekela ikuseni umthetho na, loba watshengisa ukusa indawo yakho
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the day-spring to know its place;
13 ukuba kuphakamise umhlaba ngemiphetho kuthintithe ababi abakuwo?
That it might take hold of the ends of earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 Umhlaba ubumbeka isimo njengebumba ufakwe uphawu; imibala yawo ikhanye ithi bha njengelembu.
It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 Ababi bayacitshelwa ukukhanya, lengalo yabo ephakanyisiweyo iyephulwa.
And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
16 Sewake wahamba emithonjeni yolwandle na loba wahamba ezingoxweni zenziki yalo na?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
17 Amasango okufa aseke abonakaliswa kuwe na? Usuke wawabona amasango ethunzi lokufa na?
Have the gates of death been opened to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shades of death?
18 Ubuqedisisile na ubukhulu bobubanzi bomhlaba? Ngitshela nxa ukwazi konke lokhu.
Hast thou perceived the breadth 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 [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] 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!
Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
22 Sewake wangena eziphaleni zikangqwaqwane loba wabona iziphala zesiqhotho na,
Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 engizilindisele izikhathi zohlupho, insuku zempi lokuhlasela na?
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against 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, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Ngubani ogubhe intshukuntshu yezihlambo zezulu, lendlela yomdumo wesiphepho;
Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 ukuthelezela ilizwe elingahlali muntu, inkangala okungelamuntu kuyo,
To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is]; [on] the wilderness in which [there is] no man;
27 ukusuthisa ilizwe elilugwadule kulenze lihlume utshani na?
To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Izulu elinayo liloyise na? Ngubani onguyise wamathonsi amazolo na?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Ngesikabani isisu esizala iliqhwa na? Ngubani ozala umtshazo ovela phezulu na
Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 lapho amanzi abalukhuni njengelitshe, lapho iphezulu yolwandle ijiyile?
The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Ungasibopha na isiLimela lesi esihle? Ungazithukulula yini izintambo zeziNja?
Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Ungawuletha na uMthala ngesikhathi sawo loba ukhuphe inkanyezi ethiwa yiNgulube lemidlwane yayo?
Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in its season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with its sons?
33 Uyayazi imithetho yasezulwini na? Ungawakha yini umbuso kaNkulunkulu emhlabeni?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set its dominion on the earth?
34 Ungawamemeza yini amayezi uthi akunethise ngesihlambo samanzi?
Canst thou lift thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Uyakuthuma yini ukuphazima kombane? Uyabika kuwe yini uthi, ‘Ngilapha’?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say to 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 heart?
37 Ngubani ololwazi lokubala amayezi na? Ngubani ongagenqula amaqhaga asezulwini na
Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 nxa uthuli seluqina lamagade omhlabathi esebumbene?
When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Uyasizingelela na isilwanekazi ukudla kwaso, uyiqede indlala yezilwane
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 lapho zilele ezikhundleni zazo kumbe zicwathile ezixukwini?
When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert 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 to God, they wander for want of food.
