< Yobu 1 >

1 Mʼdziko la Uzi munali munthu wina, dzina lake Yobu. Munthu ameneyu anali wosalakwa ndi wolungama mtima, ankaopa Mulungu ndi kupewa zoyipa.
THERE was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was whole-hearted and upright, and one that feared God, and shunned evil.
2 Anali ndi ana aamuna asanu ndi awiri ndi ana aakazi atatu,
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 ndipo anali ndi nkhosa 7,000, ngamira 3,000, ngʼombe zantchito 1,000 ndi abulu aakazi 500, ndiponso anali ndi antchito ambiri. Iye anali munthu wotchuka kwambiri pakati pa anthu onse a mʼmayiko a kummawa.
His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
4 Ana ake aamuna ankachita phwando mosinthanasinthana mʼnyumba zawo, ndipo ankayitana alongo awo atatu aja kudzadya ndi kumwa nawo.
And his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 Masiku aphwandowo atatha, Yobu ankawayitana kuti adzawayeretse. Mmamawa iye ankapereka nsembe yopsereza kuperekera mwana aliyense, poganiza kuti, “Mwina ana anga achimwa ndi kutukwana Mulungu mʼmitima yawo.” Umu ndi mmene Yobu ankachitira nthawi zonse.
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said: 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and blasphemed God in their hearts.' Thus did Job continually.
6 Ana a Mulungu atabwera kudzadzionetsa pamaso pa Yehova, nayenso Satana anafika nawo limodzi.
Now it fell upon a day, that the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7 Yehova anati kwa Satanayo, “Kodi iwe ukuchokera kuti?” Satana anayankha Yehova kuti, “Ndakhala ndikungoyendayenda ndi kumangozungulira mʼdzikoli.”
And the LORD said unto Satan: 'Whence comest thou?' Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.'
8 Pamenepo Yehova anati kwa Satana, “Kodi unalingalirapo za mtumiki wanga Yobu? Palibe wina pa dziko lapansi wofanana naye; ndi munthu wosalakwa ndi wolungama mtima, munthu amene amaopa Mulungu ndi kupewa zoyipa.”
And the LORD said unto Satan: 'Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a whole-hearted and an upright man, one that feareth God, and shunneth evil?'
9 Satana anayankha kuti, “Kodi Yobu amaopa Mulungu popanda chifukwa?”
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said: 'Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 “Kodi Inu simumamuteteza iyeyo, nyumba yake ndi zonse zimene ali nazo? Mwadalitsa ntchito ya manja ake, kotero kuti nkhosa ndi ngʼombe zake zili ponseponse mʼdzikomo.
Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are increased in the land.
11 Koma tatambasulani dzanja lanu ndi kukantha zonse ali nazo ndipo iyeyo adzakutukwanani ndithu pamaso panu.”
But put forth Thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, surely he will blaspheme Thee to Thy face.'
12 Yehova anati kwa Satana, “Chabwino, tsono zonse zimene ali nazo ndaziyika mʼmanja mwako, koma iye yekhayo usamukhudze.” Pamenepo Satana anachoka pamaso pa Yehova.
And the LORD said unto Satan: 'Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand.' So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 Tsiku lina pamene ana aamuna ndi ana aakazi a Yobu ankachita phwando ndi kumwa vinyo mʼnyumba mwa mkulu wawo,
And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 wamthenga anabwera kwa Yobu ndipo anati, “Ngʼombe zanu zotipula ndipo abulu anu amadya chapafupi pomwepo,
that there came a messenger unto Job, and said: 'The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;
15 tsono panabwera Aseba kudzatithira nkhondo ndi kutenga zonse. Apha antchito ndi lupanga, ndipo ine ndekha ndiye ndapulumuka kuti ndidzakuwuzeni!”
and the Sabeans made a raid, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'
16 Iyeyo akuyankhulabe, wamthenga wina anabwera nati, “Kunagwa mphenzi ndipo yapsereza nkhosa ndi antchito anu onse, ndipo ine ndekha ndiye ndapulumuka kuti ndidzakuwuzeni!”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'A fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'
17 Iyeyo akuyankhulabe, wamthenga wina anabwera nati, “Akasidi anadzigawa mʼmagulu atatu ankhondo ndipo anafika pa ngamira zanu ndi kuzitenga. Apha antchito anu onse ndi lupanga, ndipo ine ndekha ndiye ndapulumuka kuti ndidzakuwuzeni!”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'The Chaldeans set themselves in three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'
18 Iyeyo akuyankhulabe, panafikanso wamthenga wina nati, “Ana anu aamuna ndi aakazi amachita phwando ndi kumwa vinyo mʼnyumba ya mkulu wawo,
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said: 'Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house;
19 mwadzidzidzi chinayamba chimphepo champhamvu chochokera ku chipululu, nʼkudzawomba nyumba mbali zonse zinayi. Nyumbayo yawagwera ndipo afa, ndipo ine ndekha ndiye ndapulumuka kuti ndidzakuwuzeni!”
And, behold, there came a great wind from across the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.'
20 Atamva zimenezi, Yobu anayimirira nangʼamba mkanjo wake, ndi kumeta tsitsi lake. Kenaka anadzigwetsa pansi napembedza Mulungu,
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;
21 nati, “Ndinatuluka maliseche mʼmimba mwa amayi anga, namonso mʼmanda ndidzalowa wamaliseche. Yehova ndiye anapereka ndipo Yehova watenga; litamandike dzina la Yehova.”
And he said; naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 Mu zonsezi, Yobu sanachimwe kapena kunena kuti, “Mulungu walakwa.”
For all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed aught unseemly to God.

< Yobu 1 >