Yobu 4
1 Pamenepo Elifazi wa ku Temani anayankha kuti,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Ngati wina atakuyankha, kodi ungakhumudwe? Koma ndani angakhale chete wosayankhula?
If anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?
3 Taganiza momwe iwe walangizira anthu ambiri, momwe walimbitsira anthu ofowoka.
See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Mawu ako analimbitsa anthu ofuna kugwa; unachirikiza anthu wotha mphamvu.
Your words have supported him who was falling; you have made feeble knees firm.
5 Koma tsopano mavuto akufikira ndipo wataya mtima, zakukhudza ndipo uli ndi mantha.
But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Kodi kuopa Mulungu kwako sindiko kulimbika mtima kwako? Ndipo moyo wako wosalakwa ndiye chiyembekezo chako?
Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Ganiza bwino tsopano: Kodi munthu wosalakwa anawonongekapo nʼkale lonse? Nʼkuti kumene munthu wolungama mtima anaphedwa?
Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever cut off?
8 Monga ndaonera ine, anthu amene amatipula zoyipa, ndi iwo amene amadzala mavuto, amakolola zomwezo.
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.
9 Iwo amaphedwa ndi mpweya wa Mulungu; amawonongeka ndi mpweya waukali wa mkwiyo wake.
By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 Mikango imabangula ndi kulira, komabe mano a mikango yamphamvu amathyoledwa.
The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.
11 Mkango umafa chifukwa chosowa nyama, ndipo ana amkango amamwazikana.
The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.
12 “Mawu anabwera kwa ine mwamseri, makutu anga anamva kunongʼona kwake.
Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.
13 Mʼkati mwa maloto ochititsa mantha usiku, nthawi imene anthu amagona tulo tofa nato,
Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.
14 ndinagwidwa ndi mantha, ndi kuyamba kunjenjemera ndipo mafupa anga onse anaweyeseka.
It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.
15 Pamenepo mzimu unadutsa pamaso panga, ndipo ubweya wa pa thupi langa unayima kuti njoo.
Then a spirit passed before my face, and the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Chinthucho chinayimirira koma sindinathe kuzindikira kuti chinali chiyani. Chinthu chinayima patsogolo panga, kunali zii ndipo ndinamva mawu akuti,
The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,
17 ‘Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wolungama kupambana Mulungu? Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wangwiro kupambana Mlengi wake?
“Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Ngati Mulungu sakhulupirira atumiki ake omwe, ngati Iye amawapeza angelo ake ndi cholakwa,
See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of folly,
19 nanga kuli bwanji ndi iwo amene amakhala mʼnyumba zadothi, amene maziko awo ndi fumbi, amene amathudzuka mosavuta ngati kadziwotche!
how much more is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?
20 Mmawa ali moyo, pofika madzulo afa; mwakachetechete, amawonongeka kwamuyaya.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.
21 Kodi zonse zimene ali nazo sizimatheratu, kotero kuti amafa osadziwa nʼkanthu komwe?’
Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.
