< Yobo 1 >

1 Moto moko azalaki kovanda na mokili ya Utsi, kombo na ye ezalaki « Yobo; » azalaki kotambola na boyengebene mpe na bosembo, azalaki kotosa Nzambe mpe kokima mabe.
There was a man in the land of Hus, whose name was Job, and that man was simple and upright, and fearing God, and avoiding evil.
2 Azalaki na bana mibali sambo, bana basi misato;
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 mpe azalaki na etonga ya bameme nkoto sambo, bashamo nkoto misato, bangombe nkoto moko, ba-ane nkama mitano, mpe azalaki na basali ebele penza. Alekaki bato nyonso ya Este na lokumu.
And his possession was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a family exceeding great: and this man was great among all the people of the east.
4 Bana na ye ya mibali bazalaki na ezaleli ya kosangana kati na ndako ya moko kati na bango, mpo na kosala feti; mpe, na feti yango, bazalaki kobengisa bandeko na bango ya basi mpo na kolia mpe komela elongo na bango.
And his sons went, and made a feast by houses every one in his day. And sending they called their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5 Mpe soki mikolo ya feti esili, Yobo azalaki kobengisa bana na ye mpo na kopetola bango. Na tongo-tongo, azalaki kobonza mbeka ya kotumba mpo na moko na moko kati na bango; pamba te azalaki komilobela: « Tango mosusu bana na ngai basali masumu mpe balakeli Nzambe mabe kati na mitema na bango. » Yobo azalaki kosala bongo tango nyonso.
And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.
6 Mokolo moko, ba-anjelu ya Nzambe bayaki komilakisa liboso ya Yawe. Satana mpe ayaki elongo na bango.
Now on a certain day when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them.
7 Yawe atunaki Satana: — Owuti wapi? Satana azongiselaki Yawe: — Nawuti kotambola mpe koyengayenga na mokili.
And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.
8 Yawe alobaki na Satana: — Boni, omoni Yobo, mosali na Ngai? Ezali na moto moko te oyo azali lokola ye, kati na mokili: azali moyengebene mpe moto ya sembo, atosaka Nzambe mpe akimaka mabe.
And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?
9 Satana azongiselaki Yawe: — Okanisi ete ezali na pamba nde Yobo atosaka Nzambe?
And Satan answering, said: Doth Job fear God in vain?
10 Boni, otonga mir te zingazinga na ye mpo na kobatela ye, ndako na ye mpe biloko na ye nyonso? Opambola misala ya maboko na ye, mpe bibwele na ye epanzana na mokili mobimba.
Hast not thou made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth?
11 Kasi sik’oyo, sembola kaka loboko na Yo mpe beta biloko na ye nyonso; okomona penza soki akolakela Yo mabe te na miso na Yo.
But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he blesseth thee not to thy face.
12 Yawe alobaki na Satana: — Malamu! Biloko na ye nyonso ezali kati na maboko na yo; kasi, kokitisa loboko na yo te na bomoi na ye! Boye, Satana alongwaki liboso ya Yawe.
Then the Lord said to Satan: Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand: only put not forth thy hand upon his person. And Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13 Mokolo moko, tango bana mibali mpe bana basi ya Yobo bazalaki kosala feti mpe komela masanga ya vino kati na ndako ya ndeko mobali na bango ya liboso,
Now upon a certain day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their eldest brother,
14 ntoma moko ayaki epai na Yobo mpo na koyebisa ye: « Bangombe ezalaki kobalola mabele ya bilanga, mpe ba-ane ezalaki kolia matiti pembeni wana;
There came a messenger to Job, and said: The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them,
15 bongo bato ya Saba bayei kokweyela yango mpe bakei na yango. Babomi basali na mopanga, mpe ngai moko kaka moto nabiki; yango wana nayei kopesa yo sango! »
And the Sabeans rushed in, and took all away, and slew the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
16 Wana azalaki nanu koloba, ntoma mosusu ayaki mpe alobaki: « Moto ya Nzambe ekweyi longwa na likolo mpe ezikisi bibwele mpe basali! Ngai moko kaka moto nabiki; yango wana nayei kopesa yo sango! »
And while he was yet speaking, another came, and said: The fire of God fell from heaven, and striking the sheep and the servants, hath consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
17 Wana azalaki nanu koloba, ntoma mosusu ayaki mpe alobaki: « Bato ya Chalide basalaki masanga misato, bakweyeli bashamo na yo mpe bakei na yango. Babomi basali na mopanga, mpe ngai moko kaka moto nabiki; yango wana nayei kopesa yo sango! »
And while he also was yet speaking, there came another, and said: The Chaldeans made three troops, and have fallen upon the camels, and taken them, moreover they have slain the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell thee.
18 Wana azalaki nanu koloba, ntoma mosusu ayaki mpe alobaki: « Wana bana na yo ya mibali mpe ya basi bazalaki kosala feti mpe komela masanga ya vino kati na ndako ya ndeko mobali na bango ya liboso,
He was yet speaking, and behold another came in, and said: Thy sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their elder brother:
19 mopepe moko ya makasi ewutaki na ngambo mosusu ya esobe mpe eyaki kobeta basonge minei ya ndako. Ndako ekweyeli bango, mpe bango nyonso basili kokufa. Ngai moko kaka moto nabiki; yango wana nayei kopesa yo sango! »
A violent wind came on a sudden from the side of the desert, and shook the four corners of the house, and it fell upon thy children and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to fell thee.
20 Yobo atelemaki, apasolaki kazaka na ye, akokolaki suki ya moto na ye, akweyaki na mabele mpe afukamaki.
Then Job rose up, and rent his garments, and having shaven his head fell down upon the ground and worshipped,
21 Alobaki: « Nabimaki bolumbu, na libumu ya mama na ngai, mpe nakozonga bolumbu. Yawe apesaki, mpe Yawe asili kozwa; tika ete Kombo na Ye ekumisama! »
And said: Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 Na makambo wana nyonso, Yobo atikalaki kosala lisumu te mpe atangaki pasi yango na moto ya Nzambe te.
In all these things Job sinned not by his lips, nor spoke he any foolish thing against God.

< Yobo 1 >