UJobe 38
1 INkosi yasimphendula uJobe isesivunguzaneni yathi:
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 Ngubani lo ofiphaza iseluleko ngamazwi angelalwazi?
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Bopha-ke ukhalo lwakho njengendoda, njalo ngizakubuza, njalo ungenze ngazi.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto Me.
4 Wawungaphi lapho ngimisa izisekelo zomhlaba? Tshono uba usazi ukuqedisisa.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast the understanding.
5 Ngubani owabeka izilinganiso zawo, uba ukwazi? Kumbe ngubani owelulela intambo yokulinganisa phezu kwawo?
Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 Izisekelo zawo zamiswa phezu kwani? Kumbe ngubani owabeka ilitshe lawo lengonsi,
Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7 lapho inkanyezi zokusa zahlabela kanyekanye, lamadodana wonke kaNkulunkulu amemeza ngenjabulo?
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Kumbe ngubani owavalela ulwandle ngezivalo, lapho lufohla luphuma esiswini,
Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth, and issued out of the womb;
9 lapho ngimisa iyezi laba yisembatho salo, lomnyama onzima waba yimbeleko yalo?
When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
10 Njalo ngaluqumela isimiso, ngamisa imigoqo lezivalo,
And prescribed for it My decree, and set bars and doors,
11 ngathi: Uzafika kuze kube lapha, kodwa ungedluli, lalapha kuzamelana lokuzigqaja kwamagagasi akho.
And said: 'Thus far shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed'?
12 Kusukela ensukwini zakho walawula ukusa yini, wenza ukudabuka kokusa ukuthi kwazi indawo yakho,
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, and caused the dayspring to know its place;
13 ukuthi kubambe imiphetho yomhlaba, ukuze kuthintithe ababi kuwo?
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 Kuyaguquka njengebumba lophawu lokunamathisela, kuzimisa njengesembatho.
It is changed as clay under the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 Lakwababi ukukhanya kwabo kuyagodlwa, lengalo ephakemeyo iyephulwa.
But from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
16 Usungenile emithonjeni yolwandle yini, wahamba usiya le lale ekudingeni inziki?
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Amasango okufa wawembulelwa yini, wawabona amasango ethunzi lokufa?
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Uqedisisile yini kuze kube sebubanzini bomhlaba? Tshono uba ukwazi konke.
Hast thou surveyed unto the breadths of the earth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.
19 Ingaphi indlela lapho okuhlala khona ukukhanya? Lomnyama, ingaphi indawo yawo,
Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and as for darkness, where is the place thereof;
20 ukuze ukuse emngceleni wakho, lokuthi uqedisise izindlela zomuzi wakho?
That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Uyazi, ngoba wawusuzelwe, lenani lensuku zakho likhulu.
Thou knowest it, for thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Usungenile eziphaleni zeliqhwa elikhithikileyo yini, wabona iziphala zesiqhotho,
Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, or hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail,
23 engizigodle kuze kube yisikhathi sokuhlupheka, kuze kube lusuku lokulwa lolwempi?
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 Ingaphi indlela lapho ukukhanya okwabiwa khona, umoya wempumalanga ohlakazeka khona emhlabeni?
By what way is the light parted, or the east wind scattered upon the earth?
25 Ngubani owehlukanisela impophoma indlela yamanzi, lendlela yombane wemidumo,
Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, or a way for the lightning of the thunder;
26 ukuthi line emhlabeni lapho okungelamuntu khona, enkangala okungelamuntu kuyo,
To cause it to rain on a land where no man is, on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 ukusuthisa inkangala legwadule, lokuhlumisa ukuphuma kotshani?
To satisfy the desolate and waste ground, and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Izulu liloyise yini, kumbe ngubani owazala amathonsi amazolo?
Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Ungqwaqwane waphuma esiswini sikabani? Njalo ngubani owazala iliqhwa lamazulu?
Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoar-frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 Amanzi afihlakele njengelitshe, lobuso bokujula bujiyile.
The waters are congealed like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 Ungazibopha yini izibopho zesiLimela, kumbe uthukulule intambo zeziNja?
Canst thou bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Ungakhupha yini izinkanyezi ngesikhathi sazo? Ungakhokhela yini iBhere kanye labantwana balo?
Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons?
33 Uyazazi yini izimiso zamazulu, kumbe ungamisa umbuso wazo emhlabeni?
Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Ungaphakamisela yini ilizwi lakho emayezini, ukuthi ubunengi bamanzi bukusibekele?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Ungathuma yini imibane ukuthi ihambe, ithi kuwe: Khangela, silapha?
Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee: 'Here we are'?
36 Ngubani owabeka inhlakanipho emibilini? Kumbe ngubani onike ukuqedisisa engqondweni?
Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?
37 Ngubani ongabala amayezi ngenhlakanipho? Njalo ngubani ongalalisa imbodlela zamazulu,
Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 lapho uthuli luqina lube yizigaqa, lamagade anamathelane?
When the dust runneth into a mass, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Ungasizingelela yini isilwane ukudla, kumbe usuthise ukulamba kwezilwane ezintsha,
Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lioness? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 lapho zicathame emihomeni, zihlala esikhundleni ukuthi zicathame?
When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Ngubani olungisela iwabayi ukudla kwalo, lapho amaphuphu alo ekhala kuNkulunkulu, ezulazula ngoba kungelakudla?
Who provideth for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry unto God, and wander for lack of food?
