UJobe 12
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
3 Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who does not know such things as these?
4 Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
I am as a man who is a laughing-stock to his neighbor. I who called upon God, and he answered. The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5 Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for calamity. It is ready for those whose foot slips.
6 Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure. Into whose hand God brings abundantly.
7 Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee, and the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee.
8 Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee, and the fishes of the sea shall declare to thee.
9 Ngubani ongaziyo phakathi kwakho konke lokhu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sikwenzile lokhu?
Who does not know in all these, that the hand of Jehovah has wrought this,
10 Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?
11 Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
Does not the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
12 Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
With aged men is wisdom, and in length of days understanding.
13 Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
14 Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
Behold, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again. He shuts up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
He leads counselors away stripped, and he makes judges fools.
18 Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
He loosens the bond of kings, and he binds their loins with a belt.
19 Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
20 Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
He removes the speech of the trustworthy, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
He pours contempt upon rulers, and weakens the strength of the strong.
22 Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
23 Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
24 Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25 Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
They grope in the dark without light, and he makes them to stagger like a drunken man.
