Yobu 4
1 Pamenepo Elifazi wa ku Temani anayankha kuti,
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 “Ngati wina atakuyankha, kodi ungakhumudwe? Koma ndani angakhale chete wosayankhula?
If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Taganiza momwe iwe walangizira anthu ambiri, momwe walimbitsira anthu ofowoka.
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Mawu ako analimbitsa anthu ofuna kugwa; unachirikiza anthu wotha mphamvu.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 Koma tsopano mavuto akufikira ndipo wataya mtima, zakukhudza ndipo uli ndi mantha.
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 Kodi kuopa Mulungu kwako sindiko kulimbika mtima kwako? Ndipo moyo wako wosalakwa ndiye chiyembekezo chako?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity of thy ways?
7 “Ganiza bwino tsopano: Kodi munthu wosalakwa anawonongekapo nʼkale lonse? Nʼkuti kumene munthu wolungama mtima anaphedwa?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous destroyed?
8 Monga ndaonera ine, anthu amene amatipula zoyipa, ndi iwo amene amadzala mavuto, amakolola zomwezo.
Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 Iwo amaphedwa ndi mpweya wa Mulungu; amawonongeka ndi mpweya waukali wa mkwiyo wake.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
10 Mikango imabangula ndi kulira, komabe mano a mikango yamphamvu amathyoledwa.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 Mkango umafa chifukwa chosowa nyama, ndipo ana amkango amamwazikana.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 “Mawu anabwera kwa ine mwamseri, makutu anga anamva kunongʼona kwake.
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 Mʼkati mwa maloto ochititsa mantha usiku, nthawi imene anthu amagona tulo tofa nato,
In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
14 ndinagwidwa ndi mantha, ndi kuyamba kunjenjemera ndipo mafupa anga onse anaweyeseka.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 Pamenepo mzimu unadutsa pamaso panga, ndipo ubweya wa pa thupi langa unayima kuti njoo.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body stood up:
16 Chinthucho chinayimirira koma sindinathe kuzindikira kuti chinali chiyani. Chinthu chinayima patsogolo panga, kunali zii ndipo ndinamva mawu akuti,
It stood still, but I could not recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 ‘Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wolungama kupambana Mulungu? Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wangwiro kupambana Mlengi wake?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Ngati Mulungu sakhulupirira atumiki ake omwe, ngati Iye amawapeza angelo ake ndi cholakwa,
Behold, in his servants he putteth no trust, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 nanga kuli bwanji ndi iwo amene amakhala mʼnyumba zadothi, amene maziko awo ndi fumbi, amene amathudzuka mosavuta ngati kadziwotche!
How much less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?
20 Mmawa ali moyo, pofika madzulo afa; mwakachetechete, amawonongeka kwamuyaya.
From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 Kodi zonse zimene ali nazo sizimatheratu, kotero kuti amafa osadziwa nʼkanthu komwe?’
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
