< UJobe 39 >

1 Uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwamagogo edwala? Uyananzelela yini ukuhelelwa kwezimpala?
Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Ungazibala yini inyanga ezizigcwalisayo? Njalo uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwazo?
Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 Zigoba, zizale abantwana bazo, zikhuphe imihelo yazo.
They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they cast out their fruit.
4 Amazinyane azo aqine akhule egangeni; asuke ahambe, angabuyi kuzo.
Their young ones wax strong, they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not again.
5 Ngubani owakhupha ubabhemi weganga ekhululekile? Njalo ngubani othukulule izibopho zikababhemi weganga,
Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
6 engimmisele inkangala ibe ngumuzi wakhe, lesimunyu sibe zindawo zakhe zokuhlala?
Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling-place.
7 Uhleka umsindo womuzi, angezwa imisindo yomtshayeli.
He scorneth the tumult of the city, neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.
8 Udinga izintaba ezilidlelo lakhe, edinga elandela konke okuluhlaza.
The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
9 Inyathi iyavuma yini ukukusebenzela? Izalala yini esibayeni sakho ebusuku?
Will the wild-ox be willing to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?
10 Ungayibophela inyathi yini ngentambo yayo emfolweni? Ingabhuqa yini izihotsha emva kwakho?
Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Ungathembela kuyo yini ngoba amandla ayo makhulu? Ungayiyekelela yini umtshikatshika wakho?
Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
12 Ungayikholwa yini ukuthi izabuyisa inhlanyelo yakho, njalo iyibuthele ebaleni lokubhulela lakho?
Wilt thou rely on him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather the corn of thy threshing-floor?
13 Impiko zezintshe ziyaphaphazela ngentokozo; kodwa zizimpiko lezinsiba zengabuzane yini?
The wing of the ostrich beateth joyously; but are her pinions and feathers the kindly stork's?
14 Ngoba itshiya amaqanda ayo emhlabathini, iwakhudumeze othulini,
For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
15 iyakhohlwa ukuthi unyawo lungawachoboza, lokuthi isilo seganga singawanyathela.
And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may trample them.
16 Iwaphatha kalukhuni amaphuphu ayo, kungathi kawayisiwo awayo; umtshikatshika wayo uyize, ingelakwesaba.
She is hardened against her young ones, as if they were not hers; though her labour be in vain, she is without fear;
17 Ngoba uNkulunkulu wayithathela inhlakanipho, kayabelanga ukuqedisisa.
Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath He imparted to her understanding.
18 Lapho sekuyisikhathi iyaziphakamisela phezulu, ihleke ibhiza lomgadi walo.
When the time cometh, she raiseth her wings on high, and scorneth the horse and his rider.
19 Uzanika yini ibhiza amandla? Uyayigqokisa yini intamo yalo ngomhlonga oyephuzelayo?
Hast thou given the horse his strength? Hast thou clothed his neck with fierceness?
20 Uyalenza leqe yini njengentethe? Ubukhosi bokukhala kwalo buyesabeka.
Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.
21 Liyaphanda esihotsheni, lithokoze ngamandla alo, liphume ukuhlangabeza izikhali.
He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength; he goeth out to meet the clash of arms.
22 Liyakuhleka ukwesaba, kalesabi, kaliphenduki phambi kwenkemba.
He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
23 Phezu kwalo isamba semitshoko siyakhehlezela, umkhonto ophazimayo lomdikadika.
The quiver rattleth upon him, the glittering spear and the javelin.
24 Ngokuqhuqha lokufutheka liginye umhlaba; kalikholwa ukuthi ngumsindo wophondo.
He swalloweth the ground with storm and rage; neither believeth he that it is the voice of the horn.
25 Ekukhaleni kophondo lithi: Aha! Linuke impi ikhatshana, umdumo wezinduna, lokumemeza.
As oft as he heareth the horn he saith: 'Ha, ha!' and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Ukhozi luyaphapha yini ngokuqedisisa kwakho, luselulela impiko zalo eningizimu?
Doth the hawk soar by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?
27 Ilinqe liyaqonga ngokulaya kwakho, lakhe isidleke salo engqongeni yini?
Doth the vulture mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
28 Lihlala lilale ebusuku edwaleni, engqongeni yedwala leyenqaba.
She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the stronghold.
29 Lisuka lapho lidinga ukudla; amehlo alo abonela khatshana.
From thence she spieth out the prey; her eyes behold it afar off.
30 Lamaphuphu alo azitika ngegazi; lalapho okukhona ababuleweyo likhona.
Her young ones also suck up blood; and where the slain are, there is she.

< UJobe 39 >