UJobe 12
1 Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Ngoba isibili lingabantu, lenhlakanipho izakufa lani.
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 Lami ngilengqondo njengani, kangiphansi kulani. Njalo ngubani ongelazo izinto ezinje?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?
4 Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
I am as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
6 Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
8 Kumbe khuluma lomhlaba, uzakufundisa, lenhlanzi zolwandle zizakulandisela.
Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Ngubani ongaziyo phakathi kwakho konke lokhu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sikwenzile lokhu?
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 Okusesandleni sakhe umphefumulo wakho konke okuphilayo, lomoya wayo yonke inyama yomuntu.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 Indlebe kayihloli yini amazwi, njengolwanga luzinambithela ukudla?
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 Kwabadala kakhulu kulenhlakanipho, lebudeni bezinsuku kulokuqedisisa.
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 Kuye kukhona inhlakanipho lamandla, uleseluleko lokuqedisisa.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
14 Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
15 Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
24 Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
He taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when there is no way.
25 Ziphumputhe emnyameni kungelakukhanya, uzenza zidiyazele njengodakiweyo.
They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
