Uunongo u na ondilo
1 Oku na oomina dhoshisiliveli,
nomahala mpoka oshingoli hashi yelithwa.
2 Oshiyela otashi fulwa mevi,
noshikushu otashi hemunwa tashi zi moshimanya.
3 Aantu otaa entamene momilema,
otaa konakona muule womevi
notaa kongo oshimanya muuleeleka.
4 Otaa fulu iikolo yoomina mevi,
kokule naantu mboka ye li kombanda;
pokuma ihaapu endiwa kaantu,
opo mpoka taa fulu ye li muuwike.
5 Mevi omo hamu zi iikulya,
ihe meni lyalyo otamu lunduluka mwa fa mu na omulilo.
6 Omamanya gosafire ohaga zi mevi;
ontsi yalyo oyi na oshingoli.
7 Nondhila yekodhi inayi tseya ondjila ndjo yu uka koomina,
nomeho gembiimbili inage yi mona.
8 Iiyamakuti iinuuntsa inayi yi lamba,
nonime inayi enda mo.
9 Aantu otaa panda omamanya omakukutukukutu,
otaa dhikula mo oondundu nomidhi dhadho.
10 Otaa hoko omikala moondundu;
omeho gawo oge wete emanya kehe li na ondilo.
11 Otaa itsu oonza dhomilonga,
notaa holola puuyelele iinima ya holekwa.
12 Ihe uunongo otau adhika peni?
Openi tatu ilongo oondunge?
13 Omuntu itu uvu ko ondilo yawo;
itau adhika maantu yokombanda yevi.
14 Muule womohi kau mo,
nefuta kali u na.
15 Itau vulu okulandwa noshingolilela,
ondando yawo oyi vule ndjoka yoshisiliveli.
16 Itau vulu okulandwa noshingoli shokuOfir,
nenge nomamanya gondilo gaoniks nosafire.
17 Ondilo yawo oyi vule yoshingoli nenge yemanya lyokristali,
noitau landakanithwa nuuwe woshingoli.
18 Ondilo yoonyoka noyojaspes itayi adha mo.
Ondando yuunongo oyi vule ndjoka yorubini.
19 Itau yelekwa nondilo yotopasi yokuEtiopia;
itau vulu okulandwa noshingolielela.
20 Ihe uunongo otau zi peni ano?
Oondunge otatu dhi adha peni?
21 Owa holekwa aantu ayehe yokombanda yevi,
nowa holekwa oondhila dhokegulu.
22 Eso noshaasi oya ti,
oye wu uvu omufofoto.
23 Kalunga oye awike a tseya ondjila yoku wu adha;
oye e shi mpoka wa kala.
24 Oshoka Kalunga ota mono sigo okooha dhuuyuni,
nota tala ayiheyihe yi li kohi yegulu.
25 Okwa pe ombepo oonkondo dhayo
nokwa yeleke uule womeya.
26 Omvula kehe okwe yi ningile eutho,
noombadhi ondjila yadho.
27 Nena okwa tala uunongo e te wu yeleke;
okwe wu koleke ko e te wu zimine.
28 Okwa lombwele aantu a ti:
“Okutila Kalunga okwo uunongo,
nokwiidhilika uuwinayi okwo oondunge.”
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.”
