Yobu 4
1 Pamenepo Elifazi wa ku Temani anayankha kuti,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 “Ngati wina atakuyankha, kodi ungakhumudwe? Koma ndani angakhale chete wosayankhula?
Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
3 Taganiza momwe iwe walangizira anthu ambiri, momwe walimbitsira anthu ofowoka.
Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.
4 Mawu ako analimbitsa anthu ofuna kugwa; unachirikiza anthu wotha mphamvu.
The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
5 Koma tsopano mavuto akufikira ndipo wataya mtima, zakukhudza ndipo uli ndi mantha.
But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Kodi kuopa Mulungu kwako sindiko kulimbika mtima kwako? Ndipo moyo wako wosalakwa ndiye chiyembekezo chako?
Is not thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope — the perfection of thy ways?
7 “Ganiza bwino tsopano: Kodi munthu wosalakwa anawonongekapo nʼkale lonse? Nʼkuti kumene munthu wolungama mtima anaphedwa?
Remember, I pray thee, Who, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8 Monga ndaonera ine, anthu amene amatipula zoyipa, ndi iwo amene amadzala mavuto, amakolola zomwezo.
As I have seen — ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9 Iwo amaphedwa ndi mpweya wa Mulungu; amawonongeka ndi mpweya waukali wa mkwiyo wake.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.
10 Mikango imabangula ndi kulira, komabe mano a mikango yamphamvu amathyoledwa.
The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11 Mkango umafa chifukwa chosowa nyama, ndipo ana amkango amamwazikana.
An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.
12 “Mawu anabwera kwa ine mwamseri, makutu anga anamva kunongʼona kwake.
And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.
13 Mʼkati mwa maloto ochititsa mantha usiku, nthawi imene anthu amagona tulo tofa nato,
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 ndinagwidwa ndi mantha, ndi kuyamba kunjenjemera ndipo mafupa anga onse anaweyeseka.
Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15 Pamenepo mzimu unadutsa pamaso panga, ndipo ubweya wa pa thupi langa unayima kuti njoo.
And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
16 Chinthucho chinayimirira koma sindinathe kuzindikira kuti chinali chiyani. Chinthu chinayima patsogolo panga, kunali zii ndipo ndinamva mawu akuti,
It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
17 ‘Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wolungama kupambana Mulungu? Kodi munthu angathe kukhala wangwiro kupambana Mlengi wake?
'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?
18 Ngati Mulungu sakhulupirira atumiki ake omwe, ngati Iye amawapeza angelo ake ndi cholakwa,
Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'
19 nanga kuli bwanji ndi iwo amene amakhala mʼnyumba zadothi, amene maziko awo ndi fumbi, amene amathudzuka mosavuta ngati kadziwotche!
Also — the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)
20 Mmawa ali moyo, pofika madzulo afa; mwakachetechete, amawonongeka kwamuyaya.
From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.
21 Kodi zonse zimene ali nazo sizimatheratu, kotero kuti amafa osadziwa nʼkanthu komwe?’
Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!
