< Job 4 >

1 Mgbe ahụ, Elifaz onye obodo Teman zara Job sị:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Iwe ọ ga-ewe gị ma ọ bụrụ na mmadụ agwa gị okwu? Onye kwanụ nwere ike ịnọ nʼebe a hapụ ikwu okwu?
If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Lee ka i siri nye ọtụtụ mmadụ ndụmọdụ, na ka i si mee ka ndị na-ada mba nwee ume.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Okwu ọnụ gị abụrụla ihe ịgbaume nye ọtụtụ mmadụ, ị bụrụla ịgbaume nye ndị ikpere ha na-ama jijiji.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5 Ma leenụ ugbu a, nsogbu abịakwasịla gị, ị bụrụla onye na-ada mba; nsogbu etiela gị aka, i na-ama jijiji.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
6 Egwu ị na-atụ Chineke ọ gaghị abụ ihe ịgbaume nye gị, izi ezi nke ndụ gị abụrụkwa olileanya gị?
Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
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?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
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.
According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Chineke na-ala ha nʼiyi site nʼume ọ na-ekupụta. Ọ na-esitekwa nʼoke iwe ya repịa ha.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
10 Ọdụm nwere ike gbọọ ụja, maọbụ bigbọọ, ma eze ọdụm dị ike ka a gbajisiri.
The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 Oke ọdụm na-ala nʼiyi site na-enweghị ihe ọ dọgbutara, ụmụ nne ọdụm niile ka a na-achụsa.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 “E mere ka okwu rute m nʼụzọ nzuzo, ntị m nụrụ ya nʼịgba izu.
Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Nʼime nkụja nke oke nrọ nke abalị, mgbe oke ụra na-adakwasị ụmụ mmadụ,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14 oke ụjọ na ahụ ịma jijiji dakwasịrị m, meekwa ka ọkpụkpụ niile dị nʼahụ m maa jijiji.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
15 Otu mmụọ sitere nʼihu m gafee. Ọ bụladị ajị dị m nʼahụ guzochara ọtọ nʼihi ụjọ.
Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
16 Ọ kwụsịrị; ma apụghị m ịkọ ihe ọ bụ. Onyinyo guzooro nʼanya m, anụrụ m olu dị nro, nke kwuru sị:
It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still 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?
'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his 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,
Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;
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 them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the 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.
Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 Ọ bụ na-eholiteghị eriri ụlọ ikwu ha elu, mee ka ha nwụọ na-enweghị amamihe?’
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'

< Job 4 >