UJobe 39
1 Uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwamagogo edwala? Uyananzelela yini ukuhelelwa kwezimpala?
Knowest thou the time when the chamois of the rock bring forth? or markest thou when the hinds do calve?
2 Ungazibala yini inyanga ezizigcwalisayo? Njalo uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwazo?
Numberest thou the months of gestation which they complete and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 Zigoba, zizale abantwana bazo, zikhuphe imihelo yazo.
They bend themselves: they drop their young ones; throw off their pains.
4 Amazinyane azo aqine akhule egangeni; asuke ahambe, angabuyi kuzo.
Their little ones become strong; they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Ngubani owakhupha ubabhemi weganga ekhululekile? Njalo ngubani othukulule izibopho zikababhemi weganga,
Who sent out the wild ass free? or who loosened the bonds of the forest-ass?
6 engimmisele inkangala ibe ngumuzi wakhe, lesimunyu sibe zindawo zakhe zokuhlala?
To whom I assigned the wilderness as his house, and the salty land as his dwellings.
7 Uhleka umsindo womuzi, angezwa imisindo yomtshayeli.
He laugheth at the noise of a town, and the shoutings of the driver he heareth not.
8 Udinga izintaba ezilidlelo lakhe, edinga elandela konke okuluhlaza.
What he espieth on the mountains is his pasture, and after every green thing doth he search.
9 Inyathi iyavuma yini ukukusebenzela? Izalala yini esibayeni sakho ebusuku?
Will the forest-ox be willing to serve thee, or will he stay over night at thy crib?
10 Ungayibophela inyathi yini ngentambo yayo emfolweni? Ingabhuqa yini izihotsha emva kwakho?
Canst thou bind the forest-ox with a rope [to labor] in the furrow? or will he harrow valleys, following after thee?
11 Ungathembela kuyo yini ngoba amandla ayo makhulu? Ungayiyekelela yini umtshikatshika wakho?
Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
12 Ungayikholwa yini ukuthi izabuyisa inhlanyelo yakho, njalo iyibuthele ebaleni lokubhulela lakho?
Wilt thou confide in him, that he should bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?—
13 Impiko zezintshe ziyaphaphazela ngentokozo; kodwa zizimpiko lezinsiba zengabuzane yini?
The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully: hath she the pinions and plumage of the careful stork?
14 Ngoba itshiya amaqanda ayo emhlabathini, iwakhudumeze othulini,
[No, ] for she intrusteth her eggs to the earth, and letteth them be hatched out on the dust:
15 iyakhohlwa ukuthi unyawo lungawachoboza, lokuthi isilo seganga singawanyathela.
And she forgetteth that a foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may stamp them down.
16 Iwaphatha kalukhuni amaphuphu ayo, kungathi kawayisiwo awayo; umtshikatshika wayo uyize, ingelakwesaba.
He hath made her callous against her young, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain, [but she feeleth] no dread;
17 Ngoba uNkulunkulu wayithathela inhlakanipho, kayabelanga ukuqedisisa.
Because God hath denied her wisdom, and he hath not imparted to her understanding.
18 Lapho sekuyisikhathi iyaziphakamisela phezulu, ihleke ibhiza lomgadi walo.
At the time she raiseth herself up on high, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Uzanika yini ibhiza amandla? Uyayigqokisa yini intamo yalo ngomhlonga oyephuzelayo?
Dost thou give the horse strength? dost thou clothe his neck with the rolling mane?
20 Uyalenza leqe yini njengentethe? Ubukhosi bokukhala kwalo buyesabeka.
Canst thou make him jump like a locust? his majestic snort is terrible.
21 Liyaphanda esihotsheni, lithokoze ngamandla alo, liphume ukuhlangabeza izikhali.
Men spy about in the valley, and he rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed array.
22 Liyakuhleka ukwesaba, kalesabi, kaliphenduki phambi kwenkemba.
He laugheth at fear, and is not dismayed; and turneth not back from before the sword.
23 Phezu kwalo isamba semitshoko siyakhehlezela, umkhonto ophazimayo lomdikadika.
Over him rattle the quiver, the glittering spear and the lance.
24 Ngokuqhuqha lokufutheka liginye umhlaba; kalikholwa ukuthi ngumsindo wophondo.
With impatient noise and rage he holloweth [with his hoof] the ground, and keepeth not quiet when the cornet's voice [is heard].
25 Ekukhaleni kophondo lithi: Aha! Linuke impi ikhatshana, umdumo wezinduna, lokumemeza.
Midst the sound of the cornet he uttereth his joyful neigh; and from afar he perceiveth the battle, the loud call of the captains, and the battle-cry.—
26 Ukhozi luyaphapha yini ngokuqedisisa kwakho, luselulela impiko zalo eningizimu?
Is it through thy understanding that the hawk flieth along, and spreadeth out his wings toward the south?
27 Ilinqe liyaqonga ngokulaya kwakho, lakhe isidleke salo engqongeni yini?
Or is it by your order that the eagle doth mount upward, and buildeth high up his nest?
28 Lihlala lilale ebusuku edwaleni, engqongeni yedwala leyenqaba.
On a rock he dwelleth, and spendeth his nights, on a rocky crag and mountain fastness.
29 Lisuka lapho lidinga ukudla; amehlo alo abonela khatshana.
From there he espieth his food, from afar can his eyes behold.
30 Lamaphuphu alo azitika ngegazi; lalapho okukhona ababuleweyo likhona.
His young ones, also, sip up blood: and where the slain be, there is he.
