UJobe 39
1 Uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwamagogo edwala? Uyananzelela yini ukuhelelwa kwezimpala?
“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
2 Ungazibala yini inyanga ezizigcwalisayo? Njalo uyasazi yini isikhathi sokuzala kwazo?
Can you count the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
3 Zigoba, zizale abantwana bazo, zikhuphe imihelo yazo.
They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labor pains.
4 Amazinyane azo aqine akhule egangeni; asuke ahambe, angabuyi kuzo.
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.
5 Ngubani owakhupha ubabhemi weganga ekhululekile? Njalo ngubani othukulule izibopho zikababhemi weganga,
“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 engimmisele inkangala ibe ngumuzi wakhe, lesimunyu sibe zindawo zakhe zokuhlala?
whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?
7 Uhleka umsindo womuzi, angezwa imisindo yomtshayeli.
He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
8 Udinga izintaba ezilidlelo lakhe, edinga elandela konke okuluhlaza.
The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.
9 Inyathi iyavuma yini ukukusebenzela? Izalala yini esibayeni sakho ebusuku?
“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
10 Ungayibophela inyathi yini ngentambo yayo emfolweni? Ingabhuqa yini izihotsha emva kwakho?
Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
11 Ungathembela kuyo yini ngoba amandla ayo makhulu? Ungayiyekelela yini umtshikatshika wakho?
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
12 Ungayikholwa yini ukuthi izabuyisa inhlanyelo yakho, njalo iyibuthele ebaleni lokubhulela lakho?
Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?
13 Impiko zezintshe ziyaphaphazela ngentokozo; kodwa zizimpiko lezinsiba zengabuzane yini?
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
14 Ngoba itshiya amaqanda ayo emhlabathini, iwakhudumeze othulini,
For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,
15 iyakhohlwa ukuthi unyawo lungawachoboza, lokuthi isilo seganga singawanyathela.
and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.
16 Iwaphatha kalukhuni amaphuphu ayo, kungathi kawayisiwo awayo; umtshikatshika wayo uyize, ingelakwesaba.
She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
17 Ngoba uNkulunkulu wayithathela inhlakanipho, kayabelanga ukuqedisisa.
because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 Lapho sekuyisikhathi iyaziphakamisela phezulu, ihleke ibhiza lomgadi walo.
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Uzanika yini ibhiza amandla? Uyayigqokisa yini intamo yalo ngomhlonga oyephuzelayo?
“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
20 Uyalenza leqe yini njengentethe? Ubukhosi bokukhala kwalo buyesabeka.
Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
21 Liyaphanda esihotsheni, lithokoze ngamandla alo, liphume ukuhlangabeza izikhali.
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
22 Liyakuhleka ukwesaba, kalesabi, kaliphenduki phambi kwenkemba.
He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 Phezu kwalo isamba semitshoko siyakhehlezela, umkhonto ophazimayo lomdikadika.
The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.
24 Ngokuqhuqha lokufutheka liginye umhlaba; kalikholwa ukuthi ngumsindo wophondo.
He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 Ekukhaleni kophondo lithi: Aha! Linuke impi ikhatshana, umdumo wezinduna, lokumemeza.
As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Ukhozi luyaphapha yini ngokuqedisisa kwakho, luselulela impiko zalo eningizimu?
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?
27 Ilinqe liyaqonga ngokulaya kwakho, lakhe isidleke salo engqongeni yini?
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
28 Lihlala lilale ebusuku edwaleni, engqongeni yedwala leyenqaba.
On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.
29 Lisuka lapho lidinga ukudla; amehlo alo abonela khatshana.
From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
30 Lamaphuphu alo azitika ngegazi; lalapho okukhona ababuleweyo likhona.
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”
