In Praise of Wisdom
1 There are mines where silver is dug;
There are places where gold is refined.
2 We dig iron out of the ground
And melt copper out of the stones.
3 Miners explore the deepest darkness.
They search the depths of the earth
And dig for rocks in the darkness.
4 Far from where anyone lives
Or human feet ever travel,
They dig the shafts of mines.
There they work in loneliness,
Clinging to ropes in the pits.
5 Food grows out of the earth,
But underneath the same earth
All is torn up and crushed.
6 The stones of the earth contain sapphires,
And its dust contains gold.
7 No hawk sees the roads to the mines,
And no vulture ever flies over them.
8 No lion or other fierce beast
Ever travels those lonely roads.
9 Miners dig the hardest rocks,
Dig mountains away at their base.
10 As they tunnel through the rocks,
They discover precious stones.
11 They dig to the sources of rivers
And bring to light what is hidden.
12 But where can wisdom be found?
Where can we learn to understand?
13 Wisdom is not to be found among mortals;
No one knows its true value.
14 The depths of the oceans and seas
Say that wisdom is not found there.
15 It cannot be bought with silver or gold.
16 The finest gold and jewels
Cannot equal its value.
17 It is worth more than gold,
Than a gold vase or finest glass.
18 The value of wisdom is more
Than coral or crystal or rubies.
19 The finest topaz and the purest gold
Cannot compare with the value of wisdom.
20 Where, then, is the source of wisdom?
Where can we learn to understand?
21 No living creature can see it,
Not even a bird in flight.
22 Even death and destruction
Admit they have heard only rumors.
23 God alone knows the way,
Knows the place where wisdom is found,
24 Because he sees the ends of the earth,
Sees everything under the sky.
25 When God gave the wind its power
And determined the size of the sea;
26 When God decided where the rain would fall,
And the path that the thunderclouds travel;
27 It was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth—
He gave it his approval.
28 God said to us humans,
“To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord.
To understand, you must turn from evil.”
Ounongo waKalunga
1 “Osheshi ope nonhele omo oisiliveli tai di, nonhele yoshingoldo omo tashi yelifwa. 2 Oshivela tashi kufwa medu, nongopolo tai hemunwa memanya. 3 Omulaulu tau tewa po nofiyo mokule mwi emanya tali konakonwa shili, emanya lo la tuvikwa komulaulu nokomudidimbe wefyo. 4 Omina otai hokwa tapa ka iwa mokule okoshi yoonakukala kombada yedu; ova dimbuwa kwaava hava lyata kombada. Vo ohava endjelele mo kokule novanhu, tava dungaanifwa. 5 Omungome tau di medu, ndelenee meni mwi koshi yedu omo mwa dongakana ngaashi omundilo. 6 Momamanya alo omu nonhele yasafir nomu neheke loshingoldo. 7 Elila lokuya mo olo inali shiivika konhwa, neisho lekodi inali li koneka. 8 Lo itali lyatwa koilyani, itali endwa konghoshi. 9 Eke tali kumu emanya likukutu, ndee tali hadahada eemhunda fiyo okomidi dado. 10 Momamanya tamu pandwa omikala neisho tali tale oinima i lili nai lili i nondilo. 11 Ye ota fitike po eedjo. Noiholekwa ote i eta poluhaela.
12 “Ndelenee ounongo otau monika peni? Nonhele yeendunge oi li peni? 13 Ondilo younongo inai shiivika komunhu, ndele medu lovanamwenyo itau monika. 14 Oule woposhi tau ti: Kau mo mwaame. Nefuta tali ti: Kau po pwaame. 15 Itau landwa noshingoldoelela, nondado yao itai yelekwa noshisiliveli. 16 Oshingoldo shomuOfir inashi u wanena, nosho yo oumanya vaoniks ve nondilo navasafir itave u wanene. 17 Nande oshingoldo ile ekende li fike puo, oo ngaashi itau landakanifwa noinima yoingoldo. 18 Okorali nakristali itai tumbulwa pamwe nao. Okukala nounongo ku dule ouwe. 19 Okamanya katopas komuEtiopia kake shii kuyelekwa nao, nongaashi itau yelekwa noshingoldoelela.
20 “Ounongo ohau di peni? Nonhele yeendunge oi li peni? 21 Heeno, owo wa holekwa omesho aaveshe ve nomwenyo, wa holekwa eedila dokeulu. 22 Onhele yenyonauko nefyo tali ti: Omatwi etu a uda oshipopiwa ashishe shao.
23 “Kalunga a shiiva ondjila tai twala ko, Ye a shiiva onhele yao. 24 Osheshi Ye e wete ko fiyo okominghulo dedu. Ye ta tale aishe oyo i li koshi yeulu. 25 Ye eshi a pele omhepo eenghono, nomeva okwe a yelekele noshiyelekifo, 26 Ye eshi a pa odula omhango yayo, noluvadi ondjila yalo. 27 Opo nee Ye a mona ounongo noku u holola, okwe u kalekela ko nokwe u konakona. 28 Ndelenee okwa lombwela omunhu ndele ta ti: ‘Tala, okutila Kalunga okwo ounongo. Nokukukuma owii okwo eendunge.’ ”
