UJobe 38

1 INkosi yasimphendula uJobe isesivunguzaneni yathi:

And after Elius had ceased from speaking, the Lord spoke to Job through the whirlwind and clouds, [saying],

2 Ngubani lo ofiphaza iseluleko ngamazwi angelalwazi?

Who is this that hides counsel from me, and confines words in [his] heart, and thinks to conceal [them] from me?

3 Bopha-ke ukhalo lwakho njengendoda, njalo ngizakubuza, njalo ungenze ngazi.

Gird thy loins like a man; and I will ask thee, and do thou answer me.

4 Wawungaphi lapho ngimisa izisekelo zomhlaba? Tshono uba usazi ukuqedisisa.

Where wast thou when I founded the earth? tell me now, if thou hast knowledge,

5 Ngubani owabeka izilinganiso zawo, uba ukwazi? Kumbe ngubani owelulela intambo yokulinganisa phezu kwawo?

who set the measures of it, if thou knowest? or who stretched a line upon it?

6 Izisekelo zawo zamiswa phezu kwani? Kumbe ngubani owabeka ilitshe lawo lengonsi,

On what are its rings fastened? and who is he that laid the corner-stone upon it?

7 lapho inkanyezi zokusa zahlabela kanyekanye, lamadodana wonke kaNkulunkulu amemeza ngenjabulo?

When the stars were made, all my angels praised me with a loud voice.

8 Kumbe ngubani owavalela ulwandle ngezivalo, lapho lufohla luphuma esiswini,

And I shut up the sea with gates, when it rushed out, coming forth out its mother's womb.

9 lapho ngimisa iyezi laba yisembatho salo, lomnyama onzima waba yimbeleko yalo?

And I made a cloud its clothing, and swathed it in mist.

10 Njalo ngaluqumela isimiso, ngamisa imigoqo lezivalo,

And I set bounds to it, surrounding it with bars and gates.

11 ngathi: Uzafika kuze kube lapha, kodwa ungedluli, lalapha kuzamelana lokuzigqaja kwamagagasi akho.

And I said to it, Hitherto shalt thou come, but thou shalt not go beyond, but thy waves shall be confined within thee.

12 Kusukela ensukwini zakho walawula ukusa yini, wenza ukudabuka kokusa ukuthi kwazi indawo yakho,

Or did I order the morning light in thy time; and [did] the morning star [then first] see his appointed place;

13 ukuthi kubambe imiphetho yomhlaba, ukuze kuthintithe ababi kuwo?

to lay hold of the extremities of the earth, to cast out the ungodly out of it?

14 Kuyaguquka njengebumba lophawu lokunamathisela, kuzimisa njengesembatho.

Or didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set it with the power of speech upon the earth?

15 Lakwababi ukukhanya kwabo kuyagodlwa, lengalo ephakemeyo iyephulwa.

And hast thou removed light from the ungodly, and crushed the arm of the proud?

16 Usungenile emithonjeni yolwandle yini, wahamba usiya le lale ekudingeni inziki?

Or hast thou gone to the source of the sea, and walked in the tracks of the deep?

17 Amasango okufa wawembulelwa yini, wawabona amasango ethunzi lokufa?

And do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee? (questioned)

18 Uqedisisile yini kuze kube sebubanzini bomhlaba? Tshono uba ukwazi konke.

And hast thou been instructed in the breadth of the [whole earth] under heaven? tell me now, what is the extent of it?

19 Ingaphi indlela lapho okuhlala khona ukukhanya? Lomnyama, ingaphi indawo yawo,

And in what kind of a land does the light dwell? and of what kind is the place of darkness?

20 ukuze ukuse emngceleni wakho, lokuthi uqedisise izindlela zomuzi wakho?

If thou couldest bring me to their [utmost] boundaries, and if also thou knowest their paths;

21 Uyazi, ngoba wawusuzelwe, lenani lensuku zakho likhulu.

I know then that thou wert born at that time, and the number of thy years is great.

22 Usungenile eziphaleni zeliqhwa elikhithikileyo yini, wabona iziphala zesiqhotho,

But hast thou gone to the treasures of snow? and hast thou seen the treasures of hail?

23 engizigodle kuze kube yisikhathi sokuhlupheka, kuze kube lusuku lokulwa lolwempi?

And is there a store [of them], for thee against the time of [thine] enemies, for the day of wars and battle?

24 Ingaphi indlela lapho ukukhanya okwabiwa khona, umoya wempumalanga ohlakazeka khona emhlabeni?

And whence proceeds the frost? or [whence] is the south wind dispersed over the [whole world] under heaven?

25 Ngubani owehlukanisela impophoma indlela yamanzi, lendlela yombane wemidumo,

And who prepared a course for the violent rain, and a way for the thunders;

26 ukuthi line emhlabeni lapho okungelamuntu khona, enkangala okungelamuntu kuyo,

to rain upon the land where [there is] no man, the wilderness, where there is not a man in it; so as to feed the untrodden and uninhabited [land],

27 ukusuthisa inkangala legwadule, lokuhlumisa ukuphuma kotshani?

and cause it to send forth a crop of green herbs?

28 Izulu liloyise yini, kumbe ngubani owazala amathonsi amazolo?

Who is the rain's father? and who has generated the drops of dew?

29 Ungqwaqwane waphuma esiswini sikabani? Njalo ngubani owazala iliqhwa lamazulu?

And out of whose womb comes the ice? and who has produced the frost in the sky,

30 Amanzi afihlakele njengelitshe, lobuso bokujula bujiyile.

which descends like flowing water? who has terrified the face of the ungodly?

31 Ungazibopha yini izibopho zesiLimela, kumbe uthukulule intambo zeziNja?

And dost thou understand the band of Pleias, and hast thou opened the barrier of Orion?

32 Ungakhupha yini izinkanyezi ngesikhathi sazo? Ungakhokhela yini iBhere kanye labantwana balo?

Or wilt thou reveal Mazuroth in his season, and the evening star with his rays? Wilt thou guide them?

33 Uyazazi yini izimiso zamazulu, kumbe ungamisa umbuso wazo emhlabeni?

And knowest thou the changes of heaven, or the events which take place together under heaven?

34 Ungaphakamisela yini ilizwi lakho emayezini, ukuthi ubunengi bamanzi bukusibekele?

And wilt thou call a cloud with thy voice, and will it obey thee with a violent shower of much rain?

35 Ungathuma yini imibane ukuthi ihambe, ithi kuwe: Khangela, silapha?

And wilt thou send lightnings, and they shall go? and shall they say to thee, What is [thy pleasure]?

36 Ngubani owabeka inhlakanipho emibilini? Kumbe ngubani onike ukuqedisisa engqondweni?

And who has given to women skill in weaving, or knowledge of embroidery?

37 Ngubani ongabala amayezi ngenhlakanipho? Njalo ngubani ongalalisa imbodlela zamazulu,

And who is he that numbers the clouds in wisdom, and has bowed the heaven [down] to the earth?

38 lapho uthuli luqina lube yizigaqa, lamagade anamathelane?

For it is spread out as dusty earth, and I have cemented it as one hewn stone to another.

39 Ungasizingelela yini isilwane ukudla, kumbe usuthise ukulamba kwezilwane ezintsha,

And wilt thou hunt a prey for the lions? and satisfy the desires of the serpents?

40 lapho zicathame emihomeni, zihlala esikhundleni ukuthi zicathame?

For they fear in their lairs, and lying in wait couch in the woods.

41 Ngubani olungisela iwabayi ukudla kwalo, lapho amaphuphu alo ekhala kuNkulunkulu, ezulazula ngoba kungelakudla?

And who has prepared food for the raven? for its young ones wander and cry to the Lord, in search of food.