Ayubu 28
1 “Kuna machimbo ya fedha, na mahali dhahabu isafishwapo.
Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
2 Chuma hupatikana ardhini, nayo shaba huyeyushwa kutoka mawe ya madini.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
3 Mwanadamu hukomesha giza; huyatafuta hadi sehemu iliyo mbali, kwa ajili ya kuchimbua mawe yenye madini katika giza jeusi sana.
He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and 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.
The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
5 Ardhi, ambako chakula hutoka, chini hugeuzwa kwa moto;
The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with 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 the clods of it are gold.
7 Hakuna ndege awindaye aijuaye njia ile iliyofichika, wala hakuna jicho la mwewe lililoiona.
The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Wanyama wa porini wanaotamba hawajawahi kupakanyaga, wala simba azungukaye huko.
The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
9 Mikono ya mwanadamu hushambulia miamba migumu sana, na kuiacha wazi mizizi ya milima.
He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
10 Hutoboa shimo refu la kupenya chini kwa chini kwenye miamba; macho yake huona hazina zake zote.
In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
11 Hutafuta vyanzo vya mito na kuvileta vitu vilivyofichika katika nuru.
The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
12 “Lakini hekima inaweza kupatikana wapi? Ufahamu unakaa wapi?
But where is wisdom to 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 price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
14 Kilindi husema, ‘Haiko ndani yangu’; bahari nayo husema, ‘Haiko pamoja nami.’
The depth 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.
The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu ya Ofiri, kwa shohamu ya thamani kubwa au yakuti samawi ya thamani kubwa.
It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
17 Dhahabu wala mawe maangavu haviwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi hubadilishwa na vito vya dhahabu.
Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
18 Marijani na yaspi hazistahili kutajwa; thamani ya hekima ni zaidi ya akiki nyekundu.
High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
19 Yakuti manjano ipatikanayo Kushi haiwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu safi.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
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.
It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.
22 Uharibifu na Mauti husema, ‘Ni uvumi wake tu uliotufikia masikioni mwetu.’
Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
23 Mungu anaifahamu njia ya kuiendea hekima na ndiye peke yake anayefahamu inakokaa,
God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 kwa maana yeye huitazama miisho ya dunia na huona kila kitu chini ya mbingu.
For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
25 Alipofanyiza nguvu za upepo na kuyapima maji,
Who made a weight for the winds and weighed the waters by measure.
26 alipofanya maagizo kwa ajili ya mvua na njia kwa ajili ya umeme wa radi,
When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
27 ndipo alipoitazama hekima na kuikadiria thamani yake, akaithibitisha na kuihakikisha.
Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched it.
28 Naye Mungu akamwambia mwanadamu, ‘Kumcha Bwana: hiyo ndiyo hekima, nako kujitenga na uovu ndio ufahamu.’”
And he said to man: Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
