Ayubu 28
1 “Kuna machimbo ya fedha, na mahali dhahabu isafishwapo.
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold which they refine;
2 Chuma hupatikana ardhini, nayo shaba huyeyushwa kutoka mawe ya madini.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and copper is molten out of the stone.
3 Mwanadamu hukomesha giza; huyatafuta hadi sehemu iliyo mbali, kwa ajili ya kuchimbua mawe yenye madini katika giza jeusi sana.
[Man] putteth an end to the darkness, and exploreth to the utmost limit, the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death.
4 Huchimba shimo jembamba mbali na makao ya watu, mahali paliposahaulika na nyayo za wanadamu; mbali na wanadamu huningʼinia na kupembea kwa kamba.
He openeth a shaft far from the inhabitants [of the earth]: forgotten of the foot, they hang suspended; away below men they hover.
5 Ardhi, ambako chakula hutoka, chini hugeuzwa kwa moto;
As for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and underneath it is turned up as by fire;
6 yakuti samawi hutoka katika miamba yake, nalo vumbi lake lina vipande vya dhahabu.
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and it hath dust of gold.
7 Hakuna ndege awindaye aijuaye njia ile iliyofichika, wala hakuna jicho la mwewe lililoiona.
It is a path no bird of prey knoweth, and the vulture's eye hath not seen it;
8 Wanyama wa porini wanaotamba hawajawahi kupakanyaga, wala simba azungukaye huko.
The proud beasts have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed over it.
9 Mikono ya mwanadamu hushambulia miamba migumu sana, na kuiacha wazi mizizi ya milima.
[Man] putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock, he overturneth the mountains by the root.
10 Hutoboa shimo refu la kupenya chini kwa chini kwenye miamba; macho yake huona hazina zake zote.
He cutteth out channels in the rocks, and his eye seeth every precious thing.
11 Hutafuta vyanzo vya mito na kuvileta vitu vilivyofichika katika nuru.
He bindeth the streams that they drip not, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 “Lakini hekima inaweza kupatikana wapi? Ufahamu unakaa wapi?
But wisdom, where shall it be found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Mwanadamu hatambui thamani yake; haiwezi kupatikana katika nchi ya walio hai.
Man knoweth not the value thereof; and it is not found in the land of the living.
14 Kilindi husema, ‘Haiko ndani yangu’; bahari nayo husema, ‘Haiko pamoja nami.’
The deep saith, It is not in me; and the sea saith, It is not with me.
15 Haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu safi kuliko zote, wala thamani yake haiwezi kupimwa kwa fedha.
Choice gold cannot be given for it, nor silver be weighed for its price.
16 Haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu ya Ofiri, kwa shohamu ya thamani kubwa au yakuti samawi ya thamani kubwa.
It is not set in the balance with gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, and the sapphire.
17 Dhahabu wala mawe maangavu haviwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi hubadilishwa na vito vya dhahabu.
Gold and glass cannot be compared to it, nor vessels of fine gold be its exchange.
18 Marijani na yaspi hazistahili kutajwa; thamani ya hekima ni zaidi ya akiki nyekundu.
Corals and crystal are no more remembered; yea, the acquisition of wisdom is above rubies.
19 Yakuti manjano ipatikanayo Kushi haiwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu safi.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be compared to it, neither shall it be set in the balance with pure gold.
20 “Ni wapi basi hekima itokako? Ufahamu hukaa wapi?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Imefichika machoni pa kila kitu kilicho hai, imesitiriwa hata kwa ndege wa angani.
For it is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the fowl of the heavens.
22 Uharibifu na Mauti husema, ‘Ni uvumi wake tu uliotufikia masikioni mwetu.’
Destruction and death say, We have heard its report with our ears.
23 Mungu anaifahamu njia ya kuiendea hekima na ndiye peke yake anayefahamu inakokaa,
God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth its place:
24 kwa maana yeye huitazama miisho ya dunia na huona kila kitu chini ya mbingu.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, he seeth under the whole heaven.
25 Alipofanyiza nguvu za upepo na kuyapima maji,
In making a weight for the wind, and meting out the waters by measure,
26 alipofanya maagizo kwa ajili ya mvua na njia kwa ajili ya umeme wa radi,
In appointing a statute for the rain, and a way for the thunder's flash:
27 ndipo alipoitazama hekima na kuikadiria thamani yake, akaithibitisha na kuihakikisha.
Then did he see it, and declare it; he established it, yea, and searched it out;
28 Naye Mungu akamwambia mwanadamu, ‘Kumcha Bwana: hiyo ndiyo hekima, nako kujitenga na uovu ndio ufahamu.’”
And unto man he said, Lo, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
