< Job 4 >

1 Mgbe ahụ, Elifaz onye obodo Teman zara Job sị:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 “Iwe ọ ga-ewe gị ma ọ bụrụ na mmadụ agwa gị okwu? Onye kwanụ nwere ike ịnọ nʼebe a hapụ ikwu okwu?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Lee ka i siri nye ọtụtụ mmadụ ndụmọdụ, na ka i si mee ka ndị na-ada mba nwee ume.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Okwu ọnụ gị abụrụla ihe ịgbaume nye ọtụtụ mmadụ, ị bụrụla ịgbaume nye ndị ikpere ha na-ama jijiji.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 Ma leenụ ugbu a, nsogbu abịakwasịla gị, ị bụrụla onye na-ada mba; nsogbu etiela gị aka, i na-ama jijiji.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Egwu ị na-atụ Chineke ọ gaghị abụ ihe ịgbaume nye gị, izi ezi nke ndụ gị abụrụkwa olileanya gị?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 “Chee echiche ugbu a! Onye, bụ onye aka ya dị ọcha, nke a larala nʼiyi? Ebee ka i hụrụ ka e bibiri ndị na-eme ihe ziri ezi?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Dịka m si hụ ya, ndị na-agha ajọ ihe dịka mkpụrụ na ndị na-akụ okwu na ụka na-aghọta ya dịka ihe ubi.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 Chineke na-ala ha nʼiyi site nʼume ọ na-ekupụta. Ọ na-esitekwa nʼoke iwe ya repịa ha.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 Ọdụm nwere ike gbọọ ụja, maọbụ bigbọọ, ma eze ọdụm dị ike ka a gbajisiri.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 Oke ọdụm na-ala nʼiyi site na-enweghị ihe ọ dọgbutara, ụmụ nne ọdụm niile ka a na-achụsa.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 “E mere ka okwu rute m nʼụzọ nzuzo, ntị m nụrụ ya nʼịgba izu.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 Nʼime nkụja nke oke nrọ nke abalị, mgbe oke ụra na-adakwasị ụmụ mmadụ,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 oke ụjọ na ahụ ịma jijiji dakwasịrị m, meekwa ka ọkpụkpụ niile dị nʼahụ m maa jijiji.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 Otu mmụọ sitere nʼihu m gafee. Ọ bụladị ajị dị m nʼahụ guzochara ọtọ nʼihi ụjọ.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Ọ kwụsịrị; ma apụghị m ịkọ ihe ọ bụ. Onyinyo guzooro nʼanya m, anụrụ m olu dị nro, nke kwuru sị:
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Mmadụ efu ọ nwere ike bụrụ onye ezi omume karịa Chineke? Ọ bụladị nwoke dị ike, ọ pụrụ ịdị ọcha nʼobi karịa Onye kere ya?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Ọ bụrụ na Chineke adịghị atụkwasị ndị ozi ya obi, ọ bụrụ na ọ na-ebo ndị mmụọ ozi ya ebubo imejọ ihe,
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 ọ ga-esi aṅaa ghara ibo ndị bi nʼụlọ ụrọ ebubo karịa, bụ ndị ntọala ha dị nʼaja, ndị nke a na-azọpịa ngwangwa dịka nla.
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 Site nʼụtụtụ ruo nʼanyasị, a na-etipịasị ha: ha na-ala nʼiyi ruo mgbe ebighị ebi, ihe niile a na-agakwa dịka o si aga.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Ọ bụ na-eholiteghị eriri ụlọ ikwu ha elu, mee ka ha nwụọ na-enweghị amamihe?’
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’

< Job 4 >