UJobe 38
1 INkosi yasimphendula uJobe isesivunguzaneni yathi:
Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 Ngubani lo ofiphaza iseluleko ngamazwi angelalwazi?
Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Bopha-ke ukhalo lwakho njengendoda, njalo ngizakubuza, njalo ungenze ngazi.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
4 Wawungaphi lapho ngimisa izisekelo zomhlaba? Tshono uba usazi ukuqedisisa.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
5 Ngubani owabeka izilinganiso zawo, uba ukwazi? Kumbe ngubani owelulela intambo yokulinganisa phezu kwawo?
Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
6 Izisekelo zawo zamiswa phezu kwani? Kumbe ngubani owabeka ilitshe lawo lengonsi,
Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
7 lapho inkanyezi zokusa zahlabela kanyekanye, lamadodana wonke kaNkulunkulu amemeza ngenjabulo?
When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
8 Kumbe ngubani owavalela ulwandle ngezivalo, lapho lufohla luphuma esiswini,
And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
9 lapho ngimisa iyezi laba yisembatho salo, lomnyama onzima waba yimbeleko yalo?
When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
10 Njalo ngaluqumela isimiso, ngamisa imigoqo lezivalo,
And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
11 ngathi: Uzafika kuze kube lapha, kodwa ungedluli, lalapha kuzamelana lokuzigqaja kwamagagasi akho.
And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
12 Kusukela ensukwini zakho walawula ukusa yini, wenza ukudabuka kokusa ukuthi kwazi indawo yakho,
Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place:
13 ukuthi kubambe imiphetho yomhlaba, ukuze kuthintithe ababi kuwo?
That it might lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
14 Kuyaguquka njengebumba lophawu lokunamathisela, kuzimisa njengesembatho.
She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
15 Lakwababi ukukhanya kwabo kuyagodlwa, lengalo ephakemeyo iyephulwa.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
16 Usungenile emithonjeni yolwandle yini, wahamba usiya le lale ekudingeni inziki?
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 Amasango okufa wawembulelwa yini, wawabona amasango ethunzi lokufa?
Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Uqedisisile yini kuze kube sebubanzini bomhlaba? Tshono uba ukwazi konke.
Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
19 Ingaphi indlela lapho okuhlala khona ukukhanya? Lomnyama, ingaphi indawo yawo,
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
20 ukuze ukuse emngceleni wakho, lokuthi uqedisise izindlela zomuzi wakho?
That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
21 Uyazi, ngoba wawusuzelwe, lenani lensuku zakho likhulu.
Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 Usungenile eziphaleni zeliqhwa elikhithikileyo yini, wabona iziphala zesiqhotho,
Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
23 engizigodle kuze kube yisikhathi sokuhlupheka, kuze kube lusuku lokulwa lolwempi?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
24 Ingaphi indlela lapho ukukhanya okwabiwa khona, umoya wempumalanga ohlakazeka khona emhlabeni?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
25 Ngubani owehlukanisela impophoma indlela yamanzi, lendlela yombane wemidumo,
Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
26 ukuthi line emhlabeni lapho okungelamuntu khona, enkangala okungelamuntu kuyo,
To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
27 ukusuthisa inkangala legwadule, lokuhlumisa ukuphuma kotshani?
To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
28 Izulu liloyise yini, kumbe ngubani owazala amathonsi amazolo?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Ungqwaqwane waphuma esiswini sikabani? Njalo ngubani owazala iliqhwa lamazulu?
Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
30 Amanzi afihlakele njengelitshe, lobuso bokujula bujiyile.
[When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
31 Ungazibopha yini izibopho zesiLimela, kumbe uthukulule intambo zeziNja?
Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
32 Ungakhupha yini izinkanyezi ngesikhathi sazo? Ungakhokhela yini iBhere kanye labantwana balo?
Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
33 Uyazazi yini izimiso zamazulu, kumbe ungamisa umbuso wazo emhlabeni?
Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
34 Ungaphakamisela yini ilizwi lakho emayezini, ukuthi ubunengi bamanzi bukusibekele?
Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Ungathuma yini imibane ukuthi ihambe, ithi kuwe: Khangela, silapha?
Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
36 Ngubani owabeka inhlakanipho emibilini? Kumbe ngubani onike ukuqedisisa engqondweni?
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 Ngubani ongabala amayezi ngenhlakanipho? Njalo ngubani ongalalisa imbodlela zamazulu,
Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
38 lapho uthuli luqina lube yizigaqa, lamagade anamathelane?
When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
39 Ungasizingelela yini isilwane ukudla, kumbe usuthise ukulamba kwezilwane ezintsha,
Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
40 lapho zicathame emihomeni, zihlala esikhundleni ukuthi zicathame?
When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?
41 Ngubani olungisela iwabayi ukudla kwalo, lapho amaphuphu alo ekhala kuNkulunkulu, ezulazula ngoba kungelakudla?
Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
