Yobu 22
1 Pamenepo Elifazi wa ku Temani anayankha kuti,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
2 “Kodi munthu nʼkukhala waphindu kwa Mulungu? Kodi munthu wanzeru angamupindulire Iye?
“Is a man profitable to God, Because a wise man is profitable to himself?
3 Kodi Wamphamvuzonse akanapeza chabwino chotani iweyo ukanakhala wolungama? Kodi iyeyo akanapeza phindu lanji makhalidwe ako akanakhala angwiro?
Is it a delight to the Mighty One That you are righteous? Is it gain, That you make your ways perfect?
4 “Kodi nʼchifukwa choti umamuopa, kuti azikudzudzula, kuti azifuna kukukokera ku mlandu?
Because of your reverence Does He reason [with] you? He enters with you into judgment:
5 Kodi osati nʼchifukwa chakuti kuyipa kwako nʼkwakukulu? Kodi machimo ako si opanda malire?
Is your wickedness not abundant? And there is no end to your iniquities.
6 Iwe unkawumiriza abale ako kuti akupatse chikole popanda chifukwa; umalanda anthu zovala zawo ndi kuwasiya amaliseche.
For you take a pledge of your brother for nothing, And you strip off the garments of the naked.
7 Sunawapatse madzi anthu otopa, ndipo unawamana chakudya anthu anjala,
You do not cause the weary to drink water, And you withhold bread from the hungry.
8 ngakhale unali munthu wamphamvu, wokhala ndi malo akeake, munthu waulemu wake, wokhala mʼdzikomo.
As for the man of arm—he has the earth, And the accepted of face—he dwells in it.
9 Ndipo akazi amasiye unawachotsa wopanda kanthu, ndipo unapondereza ana amasiye.
You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
10 Nʼchifukwa chake misampha yakuzungulira, nʼchifukwa chake tsoka ladzidzidzi lakuchititsa mantha,
Therefore snares [are] all around you, And sudden fear troubles you.
11 nʼchifukwa chake kuli mdima kuti sungathe kuona kanthu, nʼchifukwa chakenso madzi achigumula akumiza.
Or darkness—you do not see, And abundance of waters covers you.
12 “Kodi Mulungu sali kutalitali kumwamba? Ndipo ona nyenyezi zili mmwamba kwambirizo, ona kutalika kwake pamene zililipo!
Is God not high [in] the heavens? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
13 Komabe iweyo ukunena kuti, ‘Kodi Mulungu amadziwa chiyani? Kodi Iye amaweruza mu mdima woterewu?
And you have said, How has God known? Does He judge through thickness?
14 Mitambo yakuda yamuphimba, kotero kuti Iye sakutiona pamene akuyendayenda pamwamba pa thambopo.’
Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He does not see, And He habitually walks [above] the circle of the heavens.
15 Kodi iwe udzayendabe mʼnjira yakale imene anthu oyipa ankayendamo?
Do you observe the path of the age, That men of iniquity have trodden,
16 Iwo anachotsedwa nthawi yawo isanakwane, maziko awo anakokoloka ndi madzi achigumula.
Who have been cut down unexpectedly? A flood is poured out on their foundation.
17 Anthuwo anati kwa Mulungu, ‘Tichokereni! Kodi Wamphamvuzonse angatichitire chiyani?’
Those saying to God, Turn aside from us, And what does the Mighty One do to them?
18 Chonsecho ndi Iye amene anadzaza nyumba zawo ndi zinthu zabwino, choncho ine sindigwirizana ndi uphungu wa anthu oyipa.
And He has filled their houses [with] good (And the counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
19 “Anthu olungama amaona kuwonongeka kwawo ndipo amakondwera; anthu osalakwa amangoseka, akamuona woyipa akulangidwa.
The righteous see and they rejoice, And the innocent mocks at them:
20 Amanena kuti, ‘Ndithudi adani athu awonongeka ndipo moto wawononga chuma chawo!’
Surely our substance has not been cut off, And fire has consumed their excellence.
21 “Gonjera Mulungu kuti ukhale naye pamtendere; ukatero udzaona zabwino.
Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace, Thereby your increase [is] good.
22 Landira malangizo a pakamwa pake ndipo usunge mawu ake mu mtima mwako.
Please receive a law from His mouth, And set His sayings in your heart.
23 Ukabwerera kwa Wamphamvuzonse udzabwezeretsedwa; ukachotsa zoyipa zonse zimene zimachitika mʼnyumba mwako,
If you return to the Mighty you are built up, You put iniquity far from your tents.
24 ndipo chuma chamtengowapatali nuchiona ngati fumbi, golide wa ku Ofiri numutaya ku miyala ya ku zigwa.
So as to set a defense on the dust, And a covering on a rock of the valleys.
25 Pamenepo Wamphamvuzonseyo adzakhala golide wako, siliva wako wamtengowapatali.
And the Mighty has been your defense, And silver [is] strength to you.
26 Pamenepo udzakondwera naye Wamphamvuzonse ndipo udzakweza nkhope yako kwa Mulungu.
For then you delight yourself on the Mighty, And lift up your face to God,
27 Udzamupempha ndipo adzakumvera, ndipo udzapereka zimene unalonjeza.
You make supplication to Him, And He hears you, And you complete your vows.
28 Chimene watsimikiza kuti uchite, chidzachitikadi, kuwala kudzakuwunikira pa njira yako.
And you decree a saying, And it is established to you, And light has shone on your ways.
29 Pamene anthu agwetsedwa pansi, iwe nʼkunena kuti, ‘Akwezeni!’ Pamenepo Iye adzapulumutsa anthu oponderezedwa.
For they have made low, And you say, Lift up. And He saves the bowed down of eyes.
30 Iye adzapulumutsa ngakhale munthu amene ndi wolakwa, ameneyo adzapulumutsidwa kudzera mʼkulungama kwako.”
He delivers the one [who is] not innocent, Indeed, he has been delivered By the cleanness of your hands.”
