UJobe 41
1 “Ungambamba na uLeviyathani ngewuka loba uhitshele ulimi lwakhe ngentambo na?
Canst thou draw out the Crocodile with a fish-hook? Or, with a cord, canst thou fasten down his tongue?
2 Ungawufaka umkhala yini emakhaleni akhe kumbe ubhoboze umhlathi wakhe ngewuka na?
Wilt thou put a rush-cord on his nose? or, with a thorn, wilt thou pierce his jaw?
3 Uzabe elokhu ekuncenga yini ukuthi umzwele? Uzakhuluma lawe ngamazwi apholileyo yini?
Will he multiply unto thee supplications, or will he speak unto thee softly?
4 Uzakwenza isivumelwano lawe na ukuthi abe yisichaka sakho kokuphela?
Will he solemnise a covenant with thee? Wilt thou take him for a life-long servant?
5 Ungamenza abe yisifuyo sokudlalisa njengenyoni na kumbe umfake umkhungo adlaliswe ngamantombazana na?
Wilt thou sport with him, as with a little bird? Or wilt thou bind him, for thy maidens?
6 Abathengi bazabhejelana ngentengo yakhe na? Bazakwahlukaniselana ngaye na abathengi?
Shall the companions bargain over him? or will they part him among the traders?
7 Ungasibhoboza yini isikhumba sakhe ngenhlendla loba ikhanda lakhe ngemikhonto yokuciba inhlanzi?
Wilt thou fill, with darts, his skin? or, with fish-spears, his head?
8 Ungabeka isandla phezu kwakhe, uzahlala ukukhumbula ukutshukana kwenu ungaphindi futhi!
Lay thou upon him thy hand, remember the battle—no more!
9 Ukucabanga ukuthi ungamehlula kuyize; ukumbona nje kodwa kuqeda amandla.
Lo! any hope of him, hath been found deceptive, Even at the sight of him, shall not one be overwhelmed?
10 Kakho ongaba lesibindi sokuthi alwe laye. Pho ngubani ongamelana lami na?
None so bold, that he will rouse him! Who then is he that, before me, can stand?
11 Ngubani engilomlandu kuye othi kangihlawule na? Konke okukhona ngaphansi kwezulu ngokwami.
Who hath forestalled me, that I may repay him? Under all the heavens, mine it is!
12 Kangisoze ngikhawule ukubabaza izitho zakhe, amandla akhe langesimo sakhe esihle.
I will not pass by in silence his parts, or the matter of strength, or the grace of his armour.
13 Ngubani ongaxebula isikhumba sakhe na? Ngubani ongasondela kuye ngamatomu na?
Who hath removed his outer garment, through his double row of teeth, who would enter?
14 Ngubani ongaqunga isibindi avule iminyango yomlomo wakhe, ogqagqelwe zingavula zamazinyo na?
The doors of his face, who hath opened? The circles of his teeth, are a terror!
15 Umhlane wakhe ulezinhlu zamahawu abophene silikici;
A pride, are his arched sides, closed up, with a firm seal;
16 yilelo lithe mba kwelinye okuthi kakungeni moya phakathi kwawo.
One to another, they join, and, air, cannot enter between them;
17 Anamathelene ndawonye; abambene okokuthi angeke ehlukaniswe.
Each to its fellow, they cleave, they grasp each other, and cannot be parted;
18 Ukuthimula kwakhe kukhupha inhlansi zomlilo; amehlo akhe anjengemisebe yokusa.
His sneezings, flash forth light, and, his eyes, are like the eyelashes of the dawn;
19 Amalangabi omlilo alavuka emlonyeni wakhe; inhlansi zomlilo ziqhatsha ziphuma khona.
Out of his mouth, torches dart forth, sparks of fire, escape;
20 Intuthu ithunqa iphuma emakhaleni akhe kungathi isuka embizeni ebilayo phezu komlilo wemihlanga.
Out of his nostrils, proceedeth smoke, like a blown pot and rushes;
21 Ukuphefumula kwakhe kulumathisa amalahle, njalo kulavuka amalangabi emlonyeni wakhe.
His breath, setteth coals ablaze, and, a flame, out of his mouth, proceedeth;
22 Amandla akhe asentanyeni yakhe; okuphambi kwakhe kuhle kuphele amandla.
In his neck, lodgeth strength, and, before him, danceth dismay;
23 Amavinqo enyama yakhe abambene nki; aqine nko kawehlukaniseki.
The dewlaps of his flesh, cleave together, hardened upon him, they cannot be moved;
24 Isifuba sakhe silukhuni njengelitshe, siqine njengengaphansi kwembokodo.
His heart, is hardened like a stone, yea hardened, like the nether millstone;
25 Uthi nxa ephakama kwesabe amaqhawe ngokwawo; atshede ebalekela ukubhula komsila wakhe.
At his rising up, mighty men are afraid, by reason of terror, they are beside themselves:
26 Inkemba leyo emfikelayo kayenzi lutho, kumbe umkhonto, loba umtshoko loba isijula.
As for him that assaileth him, the sword availeth not, spear, dart, or coat of mail:
27 Insimbi uyithatha njengotshani lethusi kungathi luluthi olubolileyo.
He counteth iron as broken straw, and bronze as rotten wood:
28 Imitshoko kayimenzi abaleke; lamatshe esavutha anjengomule kuye.
The arrow, will not make him flee, Into chaff, are sling-stones changed by him:
29 Induku kuye ingumuca wotshani; uyahleka esizwa ukukhenceza komdikadika.
As a straw, is a club accounted, and he laugheth at the whir of the javelin;
30 Ingaphansi yomzimba wakhe injengendengezi ezibukhali, itshiya umzila odakeni kungathi yisileyi esizunguzekayo.
His underparts, are points of potsherd, a pointed threshing roller spreadeth out upon the slime:
31 Udunga inziki zamanzi ayabuke njengembiza enkulu ibila, aluvube ulwandle njengembiza yamagcobo.
He causeth to boil, as a cauldron, the raging deep, the sea, he maketh like a brewing vessel:
32 Ngemva kwakhe utshiya umzila okhazimulayo; umuntu angazathi ulwandle luloboya obumhlophe.
After him, he lighteth up a path, one might think the resounding deep to be hoary!
33 Kakukho emhlabeni okulingana laye, isidalwa esingesabiyo.
There is not—upon the dust—his like, that hath been made to be without fear;
34 Ubakhangelela phansi bonke abathi bazithembile; uyinkosi phezu kwabo bonke abazigqajayo.”
Every thing lofty, he beholdeth, he, is king over all ravenous beasts.
