UJobe 28
1 Isibili kukhona umthapho wesiliva, lendawo yegolide abalicengayo.
Though there is, for silver, a vein, and a place for the gold they refine;
2 Insimbi ithathwa enhlabathini, lethusi lincibilikiswa elitsheni.
Iron, out of the ore, is taken, and, stone, poureth out copper;
3 Umisela umnyama umngcele, udingisisa kuze kube sekupheleleni konke, amatshe obumnyama lethunzi lokufa.
An end, hath one set to the darkness, and, into every extremity, is, he, making search, for the stone of darkness and death-shade;
4 Uqhekeza umgodi khatshana lalapho okuhlala khona abantu, lapho abakhohlwe khona lunyawo; bayalenga bejikajika khatshana labantu.
He hath sunken a shaft, away from the inhabitants; Places forsaken by the foot, they hang down, away from men, sway to and fro;
5 Umhlaba, kuphuma ukudla kuwo, langaphansi kwawo kuphenduka kwangathi ngumlilo.
As for the earth, out of it, cometh forth bread, and, under it, is upturned, as it were fire;
6 Amatshe awo ayindawo yesafire, njalo ulothuli lwegolide.
The place of sapphires, are the stones thereof, and it hath, nuggets of gold: —
7 Inyoni edla inyama kayiyazi indlela, lelihlo lelinqe kaliyibonanga.
A path, the vulture hath not discerned, nor hath the eye of the hawk scanned it;
8 Imidlwane yokuziqhenyayo kayiyinyathelanga, isilwane kasihambanga kuyo.
Ravenous beasts have not made a track thereof, neither hath the lion marched thereon:
9 Uyelula isandla sakhe elitsheni elilukhuni, uyagenqula izintaba ezimpandeni.
Upon the flint, hath he thrust forth his hand, He hath turned up mountains by the roots;
10 Aqhekeze imisele emadwaleni, lelihlo lakhe libona konke okuligugu.
Among the rocks, hath he cut open streams, and, every precious thing, hath his eye seen:
11 Uyabopha izifula zingathonti, lokufihlakeleyo ukukhuphela ekukhanyeni.
From trickling, he restraineth, rivers, and, some hidden thing, is he bringing out to light.
12 Kodwa inhlakanipho ingatholakala ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
Yet where can, Wisdom, be found? And where is the place of understanding?
13 Umuntu kalazi ixabiso lakho, njalo kakutholakali elizweni labaphilayo.
Mortal knoweth not the way thereof, neither can it be found in the land of the living;
14 Ukujula kuthi: Kakukho kimi. Lolwandle luthi: Kakulami.
The resounding deep, hath said, It is not in me! And, the sea, hath said, It is not with me!
15 Igolide elihle lingenikwe endaweni yakho, lesiliva singelinganiselwe intengo yakho.
Pure gold cannot be given in its stead, neither can silver he weighed as the value thereof;
16 Kungelingane legolide leOfiri, le-onikse eligugu, lesafire.
It cannot be put into the scales against the gold of Ophir, with costly onyx, or sapphire;
17 Igolide lekristali kungelingane lakho, futhi kungenaniswe ngesitsha segolide elicwengekileyo.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can, the exchange thereof, be a vessel of pure gold,
18 Ikorali lekristali kakuyikukhunjulwa, ngoba intengo yenhlakanipho ingaphezu kwamatshe aligugu.
Coral or crystal, cannot be mentioned, Yea, a possession, is wisdom, above red coral;
19 Itopazi leEthiyophiya lingelinganiswe lakho, kungelingane legolide elicwengekileyo.
The topaz of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, Against purest gold, can it not be weighed.
20 Pho, inhlakanipho ivela ngaphi? Lendawo yokuqedisisa ingaphi?
Whence then cometh, wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?
21 Ngoba kusithekile emehlweni abo bonke abaphilayo, kwafihlwa ezinyonini zamazulu.
Seeing it hath been hid from the eyes of every living thing, and, from the bird of the heavens, hath it been concealed?
22 Ukubhujiswa lokufa kuthi: Sizwile ngendlebe zethu umbiko wakho.
Destruction and death, have said, With our ears, have we heard the report thereof!
23 UNkulunkulu uyayiqedisisa indlela yakho, njalo yena uyayazi indawo yakho.
GOD, understandeth the way thereof, and, he, discerneth the place thereof;
24 Ngoba yena uyakhangela kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba, abone ngaphansi kwawo wonke amazulu.
For, he, unto the ends of the earth, directeth his look, under all the heavens, he seeth;
25 Esenzela umoya isisindo, walinganisa amanzi ngesilinganiso.
Making, for the wind, a weight, and, the waters, he proved by measure,
26 Lapho esenzela izulu isimiso, lombane wokuduma indlela.
When he made, for the rain, a decree, and a way for the lightning of thunders,
27 Ngalesosikhathi wakubona, walandisa ngakho; wakulungisa, yebo, wakuhlolisisa.
Then, saw he it, and declared it, He settled it, yea also he searched it out;
28 Wasesithi emuntwini: Khangela, ukwesaba iNkosi, lokhu kuyinhlakanipho, lokusuka ebubini kuyikuqedisisa.
And said to the son of earth, Lo! the reverence of the Lord, that, is wisdom, and, to avoid evil, is understanding.
