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: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
4 Ngiyinhlekisa kumngane wami, obiza kuNkulunkulu amphendule; olungileyo oqondileyo uyinhlekisa.
I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbour, [a man] that called upon God, and he answered him: the just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.
5 Uyisibane esidelelekayo emnakanweni wowonwabileyo; ulungele ukutshelela ngonyawo.
In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; it is ready for them whose foot slippeth.
6 Amathente abaphangi alokuthula, labamthukuthelisayo uNkulunkulu bavikelekile, kulowo oletha uNkulunkulu esandleni sakhe.
The tents of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].
7 Kodwa-ke buza khathesi inyamazana, zizakufundisa, lenyoni zamazulu, zizakutshela.
But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, 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 unto thee.
9 Ngubani ongaziyo phakathi kwakho konke lokhu ukuthi isandla sikaJehova sikwenzile lokhu?
Who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of LORD hath 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?
Doth not the ear try words, even as the palate tasteth its meat?
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 him is wisdom and might; he hath counsel and understanding.
14 Khangela, udiliza, kungabe kusakhiwa; uvalela umuntu, kungabe kusavulwa.
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15 Khangela, uvimbela amanzi, atshe; abesewathuma, agenqule umhlaba.
Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16 Kuye kukhona amandla lenhlakanipho; okhohlisiweyo lomkhohlisi bangabakhe.
With him is strength and effectual working; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 Ukhupha abeluleki bahambe behlutshulwe, enze abehluleli babe yizithutha.
He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and judges maketh he fools.
18 Uthukulula isibopho samakhosi, abophe umbhinco enkalweni zawo.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth their loins with a girdle.
19 Ukhupha abapristi bahambe behlutshulwe, awise abalamandla.
He leadeth priests away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
20 Uphambula inkulumo yabathembekileyo, asuse ukuqedisisa kwabasebekhulile.
He removeth the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the elders.
21 Uthela ukudelela phezu kweziphathamandla, axegise umbhinco wabalamandla.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and looseth the belt of the strong.
22 Wembula izinto ezijulileyo ezisemnyameni, akhuphele ekukhanyeni ithunzi lokufa.
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
23 Enze izizwe zibe zinkulu, abesezichitha; andise izizwe, abesezisusa.
He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth the nations abroad, and bringeth them in.
24 Ususa inhliziyo yenhloko zabantu bomhlaba, aziduhise enkangala engelandlela.
He taketh away the heart of the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causeth 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 maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
