Ayubu 28
1 “Kuna machimbo ya fedha, na mahali dhahabu isafishwapo.
“It is true that there are places where men dig to find silver, and there are places where people refine/purify gold [that they have dug].
2 Chuma hupatikana ardhini, nayo shaba huyeyushwa kutoka mawe ya madini.
People dig iron [ore] out of the ground, and they (smelt copper ore/heat copper ore to get the copper from it).
3 Mwanadamu hukomesha giza; huyatafuta hadi sehemu iliyo mbali, kwa ajili ya kuchimbua mawe yenye madini katika giza jeusi sana.
Men use lamps while they work far down under the ground to search for the ore inside the mines where it is very dark.
4 Huchimba shimo jembamba mbali na makao ya watu, mahali paliposahaulika na nyayo za wanadamu; mbali na wanadamu huningʼinia na kupembea kwa kamba.
They dig (shafts/narrow holes very deep down into the ground) in places that are far from where people live, where travelers do not go. They work far away from [other] people, swinging back and forth on ropes [as they descend into the mine shafts].
5 Ardhi, ambako chakula hutoka, chini hugeuzwa kwa moto;
Food grows on the surface of the ground, but down under the ground, [where there is no food, ] the miners make fires to break apart the rocks.
6 yakuti samawi hutoka katika miamba yake, nalo vumbi lake lina vipande vya dhahabu.
The stones [that are dug from under the ground] contain (sapphires/very valuable blue stones), and the dirt contains bits of gold.
7 Hakuna ndege awindaye aijuaye njia ile iliyofichika, wala hakuna jicho la mwewe lililoiona.
[Some birds have very good eyes, ] but even hawks do not know [where the mines are], and falcons/vultures have not seen those places.
8 Wanyama wa porini wanaotamba hawajawahi kupakanyaga, wala simba azungukaye huko.
Lions or [other] proud wild animals have not walked on the roads near those mines.
9 Mikono ya mwanadamu hushambulia miamba migumu sana, na kuiacha wazi mizizi ya milima.
Miners tear apart [MTY] very hard rock; [it is as though] they turn the mountains upside down [to get the ore].
10 Hutoboa shimo refu la kupenya chini kwa chini kwenye miamba; macho yake huona hazina zake zote.
They cut tunnels through the rocks, and they find (precious/very valuable) things.
11 Hutafuta vyanzo vya mito na kuvileta vitu vilivyofichika katika nuru.
They dam up small streams in order that water does not flow, and they bring up into the light valuable things that are hidden [in the ground and in the streams].
12 “Lakini hekima inaweza kupatikana wapi? Ufahamu unakaa wapi?
“But wisdom: Where can people find that? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
13 Mwanadamu hatambui thamani yake; haiwezi kupatikana katika nchi ya walio hai.
Humans do not know where to find it; no one can find it [here on this earth] where they are living.
14 Kilindi husema, ‘Haiko ndani yangu’; bahari nayo husema, ‘Haiko pamoja nami.’
[It is as though] water that is deep [inside the earth] and [water that is in] the seas say [PRS], ‘Wisdom is not here!’
15 Haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu safi kuliko zote, wala thamani yake haiwezi kupimwa kwa fedha.
[People] cannot buy wisdom by paying for it with silver or gold.
16 Haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu ya Ofiri, kwa shohamu ya thamani kubwa au yakuti samawi ya thamani kubwa.
Wisdom is worth much more than fine gold from Ophir [land] or other very valuable stones.
17 Dhahabu wala mawe maangavu haviwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi hubadilishwa na vito vya dhahabu.
It is worth much more than gold or beautiful glass, worth more than vases made from fine gold.
18 Marijani na yaspi hazistahili kutajwa; thamani ya hekima ni zaidi ya akiki nyekundu.
Wisdom is worth more than coral or crystal/pure quartz; the price of wisdom is higher/more than the price of pearls.
19 Yakuti manjano ipatikanayo Kushi haiwezi kulinganishwa nayo, wala haiwezi kununuliwa kwa dhahabu safi.
The prices of (topaz/very valuable yellow stones) from Ethiopia and of pure gold are lower/less than the price of wisdom.
20 “Ni wapi basi hekima itokako? Ufahamu hukaa wapi?
“So, where does wisdom come from? Where can we find out how to truly understand things?
21 Imefichika machoni pa kila kitu kilicho hai, imesitiriwa hata kwa ndege wa angani.
No living humans can see it [MTY]; and birds cannot see it while they are flying [MTY].
22 Uharibifu na Mauti husema, ‘Ni uvumi wake tu uliotufikia masikioni mwetu.’
[It is as though] the places where people go after they die say [PRS], ‘We have only heard rumors about [where to find wisdom].’
23 Mungu anaifahamu njia ya kuiendea hekima na ndiye peke yake anayefahamu inakokaa,
God [is the only one who] knows how to find wisdom; he knows where it is,
24 kwa maana yeye huitazama miisho ya dunia na huona kila kitu chini ya mbingu.
because he can see things even in the most remote/distant places on the earth; he can see everything that is below the sky.
25 Alipofanyiza nguvu za upepo na kuyapima maji,
When he decided how strongly the winds should blow, and how much rain would be in the clouds,
26 alipofanya maagizo kwa ajili ya mvua na njia kwa ajili ya umeme wa radi,
and when he decided where rain [should fall], and what path lightning should take [from the clouds down to the ground],
27 ndipo alipoitazama hekima na kuikadiria thamani yake, akaithibitisha na kuihakikisha.
at that time he saw wisdom and decided that it is extremely valuable. He examined it and (approved it/said that it was very good).
28 Naye Mungu akamwambia mwanadamu, ‘Kumcha Bwana: hiyo ndiyo hekima, nako kujitenga na uovu ndio ufahamu.’”
And [then] he said to humans, ‘Listen! To have an awesome respect for me is [what will enable you to become] wise; and to truly understand everything, you must first turn away from doing what is evil.’”
