1
Hakika kuna shimo wachimbako fedha, Na mahali wapatapo dhahabu waisafishayo.
“Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined.
2
Chuma hufukuliwa katika ardhi, Na shaba huyeyushwa katika mawe.
Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.
3
Binadamu hukomesha giza; Huyatafuta-tafuta hata mpaka ulio mbali, Mawe ya giza kuu, giza tupu.
Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.
4
Hufukua shimo mbali na makao ya watu; Husahauliwa na nyayo zipitazo; Huning'inia mbali na watu, huyumba-yumba huko na huko.
Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.
5
Katika ardhi ndimo kitokeamo chakula; Na chini yake hupinduliwa kama kwa moto.
Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.
6
Mawe yake ni mahali zipatikanapo yakuti; Nayo ina mchanga wa dhahabu.
Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.
7
Njia ile hapana ndege mkali aijuaye, Wala jicho la tai halijaiona;
No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it.
8
Wanyama wakali wajivunao hawajaikanyaga, Wala simba mkali hajaipita.
Proud beasts have never trodden it; no lion has ever prowled over it.
9
Huunyoshea mwamba wa gumegume mkono wake; Huipindua milima hata misingi yake.
The miner strikes the flint; he overturns mountains at their base.
10
Hukata mifereji kati ya majabali; Na jicho lake huona kila kito cha thamani
He hews out channels in the rocks, and his eyes spot every treasure.
11
Hufunga vijito visichuruzike; Na kitu kilichostirika hukifunua.
He stops up the sources of the streams to bring what is hidden to light.
12
Bali hekima itapatikana wapi? Na mahali pa ufahamu ni wapi?
But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?
13
Mwanadamu hajui thamani yake, Wala haionekani katika nchi ya walio hai.
No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.
14
Vilindi vyasema, Haimo ndani yangu; Na bahari yasema, Haiko kwangu.
The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’
15
Haipatikani kwa dhahabu, Wala fedha haitapimwa iwe thamani yake.
It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16
Haiwezi kutiwa thamani kwa dhahabu ya Ofiri, Wala kwa shohamu ya thamani nyingi, wala kwa yakuti ya samawi.
It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.
17
Dhahabu na vioo haviwezi kulinganishwa nayo; Wala kubadili kwake hakutakuwa kwa vyombo vya dhahabu safi.
Neither gold nor crystal can compare to it, nor jewels of fine gold be exchanged for it.
18
Havitatajwa fedhaluka wala bilauri; Naam, kima cha hekima chapita marijani.
Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19
Yakuti ya rangi ya manjano ya Kushi haitasawazishwa nayo, Wala haitatiwa kima kwa dhahabu safi.
Topaz from Cush cannot compare to it, nor can it be valued in pure gold.
20
Basi hekima yatoka wapi? Na mahali pa ufahamu ni wapi?
From where, then, does wisdom come, and where does understanding dwell?
21
Kwa kuwa imefichwa mbali na macho ya wote walio hai, Na kusitirika na ndege wa angani.
It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.
22
Uharibifu na Mauti husema, Tumesikia habari zake kwa masikio yetu.
Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’
23
Mungu ndiye aijuaye njia yake, Naye anajua mahali pake.
But God understands its way, and He knows its place.
24
Maana anatazama hata miisho ya nchi, Na kuona chini ya mbingu nzima.
For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
25
Apate kuufanyia upepo uzito wake; Naam, anayapima maji kwa kipimo.
When God fixed the weight of the wind and measured out the waters,
26
Hapo alipoiwekea mvua amri, Na njia kwa umeme wa radi.
when He set a limit for the rain and a path for the thunderbolt,
27
Ndipo alipoiona na kuitangaza; Aliithibitisha, naam, na kuichunguza.
then He looked at wisdom and appraised it; He established it and searched it out.
28
Kisha akamwambia mwanadamu, Tazama, kumcha Bwana ndiyo hekima, Na kujitenga na uovu ndio ufahamu.
And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”