UJobe 41
1 “Ungambamba na uLeviyathani ngewuka loba uhitshele ulimi lwakhe ngentambo na?
Canst thou draw out the crocodile with a fishhook? or cause his tongue to sink into the batted rope?
2 Ungawufaka umkhala yini emakhaleni akhe kumbe ubhoboze umhlathi wakhe ngewuka na?
Canst thou put a reed through his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
3 Uzabe elokhu ekuncenga yini ukuthi umzwele? Uzakhuluma lawe ngamazwi apholileyo yini?
Will he address many supplications unto thee? or will he speak submissively unto thee?
4 Uzakwenza isivumelwano lawe na ukuthi abe yisichaka sakho kokuphela?
Will he make a covenant with thee? that thou couldst take him as a servant for ever?
5 Ungamenza abe yisifuyo sokudlalisa njengenyoni na kumbe umfake umkhungo adlaliswe ngamantombazana na?
Canst thou play with him as with a bird? and tie him up for thy maidens?
6 Abathengi bazabhejelana ngentengo yakhe na? Bazakwahlukaniselana ngaye na abathengi?
Can companions waylay him? can they divide him among merchants?
7 Ungasibhoboza yini isikhumba sakhe ngenhlendla loba ikhanda lakhe ngemikhonto yokuciba inhlanzi?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? and [pierce] with a fish-spear his head?
8 Ungabeka isandla phezu kwakhe, uzahlala ukukhumbula ukutshukana kwenu ungaphindi futhi!
Lay thy hand upon him; think of the battle: thou wilt never do it again.
9 Ukucabanga ukuthi ungamehlula kuyize; ukumbona nje kodwa kuqeda amandla.
Behold, his expectation was deceived: even at his mere sight is he cast down.
10 Kakho ongaba lesibindi sokuthi alwe laye. Pho ngubani ongamelana lami na?
None is so daring that he would stir him up: and who is there that will stand up before me?
11 Ngubani engilomlandu kuye othi kangihlawule na? Konke okukhona ngaphansi kwezulu ngokwami.
Who hath shown me favor, that I should repay him! whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.—
12 Kangisoze ngikhawule ukubabaza izitho zakhe, amandla akhe langesimo sakhe esihle.
I will not conceal [the account of] his limbs, nor the relation of his might, nor the grace of his proportion.
13 Ngubani ongaxebula isikhumba sakhe na? Ngubani ongasondela kuye ngamatomu na?
Who hath ever laid open the front of his garment? or who can penetrate into his double row of teeth?
14 Ngubani ongaqunga isibindi avule iminyango yomlomo wakhe, ogqagqelwe zingavula zamazinyo na?
Who hath opened the doors of his face? all round about his teeth abideth terror.
15 Umhlane wakhe ulezinhlu zamahawu abophene silikici;
What pride is there in [his] strong shields; he is locked up as with a close seal.
16 yilelo lithe mba kwelinye okuthi kakungeni moya phakathi kwawo.
One is joined to another; and no breath can come between them.
17 Anamathelene ndawonye; abambene okokuthi angeke ehlukaniswe.
They are fitted closely one to another: they are interlocked, that they cannot be severed.
18 Ukuthimula kwakhe kukhupha inhlansi zomlilo; amehlo akhe anjengemisebe yokusa.
From his sneezing there beameth forth a light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning-dawn.
19 Amalangabi omlilo alavuka emlonyeni wakhe; inhlansi zomlilo ziqhatsha ziphuma khona.
Out of his mouth issue burning torches, sparks of fire escape [therefrom].
20 Intuthu ithunqa iphuma emakhaleni akhe kungathi isuka embizeni ebilayo phezu komlilo wemihlanga.
Out of his nostrils cometh forth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.
21 Ukuphefumula kwakhe kulumathisa amalahle, njalo kulavuka amalangabi emlonyeni wakhe.
His breath kindleth coals, and a flame cometh out of his mouth.
22 Amandla akhe asentanyeni yakhe; okuphambi kwakhe kuhle kuphele amandla.
In his neck abideth strength, and before him danceth terror joyfully.
23 Amavinqo enyama yakhe abambene nki; aqine nko kawehlukaniseki.
The flakes of his flesh are fitted closely together: they are as molten metal on him, immovable.
24 Isifuba sakhe silukhuni njengelitshe, siqine njengengaphansi kwembokodo.
His heart is firm like a stone: yea, as firm as the nether millstone.
25 Uthi nxa ephakama kwesabe amaqhawe ngokwawo; atshede ebalekela ukubhula komsila wakhe.
At his lifting himself up the mighty are terrified: the waves also are lessened.
26 Inkemba leyo emfikelayo kayenzi lutho, kumbe umkhonto, loba umtshoko loba isijula.
If one overtake him with the sword, it cannot hold; nor the spear, the dart, and armor.
27 Insimbi uyithatha njengotshani lethusi kungathi luluthi olubolileyo.
He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
28 Imitshoko kayimenzi abaleke; lamatshe esavutha anjengomule kuye.
The child of the bow cannot make him flee: into stubble are slingstones changed unto him.
29 Induku kuye ingumuca wotshani; uyahleka esizwa ukukhenceza komdikadika.
Clubs are esteemed as stubble, and he laugheth at the whirring of the lance.
30 Ingaphansi yomzimba wakhe injengendengezi ezibukhali, itshiya umzila odakeni kungathi yisileyi esizunguzekayo.
Beneath him are sharp-pointed potsherds, he spreadeth out, [as it were, a] threshing-roller upon the mire.
31 Udunga inziki zamanzi ayabuke njengembiza enkulu ibila, aluvube ulwandle njengembiza yamagcobo.
He causeth the deep to boil like a pot: he rendereth the sea like an apothecary's mixture.
32 Ngemva kwakhe utshiya umzila okhazimulayo; umuntu angazathi ulwandle luloboya obumhlophe.
Behind him he causeth his pathway to shine, [so that] men esteem the deep to be hoary.
33 Kakukho emhlabeni okulingana laye, isidalwa esingesabiyo.
There is none upon earth that ruleth over him, who is made to be without dread.
34 Ubakhangelela phansi bonke abathi bazithembile; uyinkosi phezu kwabo bonke abazigqajayo.”
He looketh upon all that is high: he is the king over all the ravenous beasts.
