Yobo 22
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 « Boni, litomba nini Nzambe akoki kozwa epai ya moto? Ezala ata moto ya bwanya, azalaka na litomba kaka mpo na ye moko.
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 Ezala soki ozali moyengebene, litomba nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akoki kozwa, ata ozali kobongisa nzela na yo ya bosembo?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 Boni, okanisi ete ezali mpo na boyengebene na yo nde azali kopamela yo mpe kosambisa yo?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Mabe na yo ezali monene te? Masumu na yo eleki ndelo te?
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 Ozalaki koluka na pamba ndanga epai ya bandeko na yo ya mibali, ozalaki kolongola bato bilamba mpe kotika bango bolumbu,
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 ozalaki kopesa mayi te na moto oyo azalaki na posa ya mayi, mpe ozalaki kopimela moto oyo azalaki na nzala bilei,
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 atako ozalaki moto monene, nkolo mabele, mpe ozalaki kovanda na mabele yango lokola moto ya lokumu;
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 ozalaki kozongisa basi bakufisa mibali maboko pamba, mpe ozalaki kosilisa makasi ya bana bitike.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Yango wana, mitambo ezingeli yo, kobebisama ya mbalakata ekomi kopesa yo somo,
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 molili makasi ezwi yo mpe ozali kokoka komona te, mpe mpela ezipi yo.
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 Boni, Nzambe azali te kuna na likolo, kati na Lola? Tala ndenge nini etando ya minzoto ezali likolo koleka!
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Nzokande, ozali koloba: ‹ Nzambe ayebi nini? Akoki kosambisa kati na mapata ya molili ya boye? ›
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 Mapata minene ezipi Ye, yango wana azali komona biso te, wana azali kotambola-tambola na etando ya Lola?
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Olingi solo kotikala kaka na nzela ya kala, nzela oyo bato mabe balekelaki?
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 Kufa ememaki bango na mbalakata, mpe miboko na bango etiolaki na mpela.
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 Bazalaki koloba na Nzambe: ‹ Tika biso, biso moko! Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akosala biso nini? ›
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Nzokande, Ye nde atondisaki bandako na bango na biloko ya kitoko. Yango wana, ngai, naboyaka toli ya bato mabe.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 Bato ya sembo bazali komona kobebisama na bango mpe bazali kosepela, bayengebene bazali koseka bango mpe bazali koloba:
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 ‹ Solo, banguna na biso babebi, moto ezikisi bomengo na bango. ›
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 Zongisa boyokani na yo elongo na Ye mpe luka kimia. Na nzela wana, bomengo ekoya lisusu epai na yo.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 Ndima malako oyo ekowuta na monoko na Ye, mpe batela maloba na Ye kati na motema na yo.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 Soki ozongi epai na Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso, soki obengani mabe mosika ya ndako na yo, bomengo na yo ekozongela yo.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 Bwaka wolo na yo kati na putulu, wolo na yo ya Ofiri kati na mabanga ya lubwaku;
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 bongo Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akozala wolo na yo, mpe palata oyo eleki kitoko mpo na yo.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Solo, okozwa esengo epai ya Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso mpe okotombola elongi na yo epai ya Nzambe.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 Okosambela Ye, Ye akoyoka yo, mpe okokokisa ndayi na yo.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 Makambo oyo okokana, ekosalema, mpe pole ekongenga na nzela na yo.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Soki bato balembi, mpe yo olobi: ‹ Telema! › Nzambe akobikisa bango,
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 akokangola ata moto oyo asali mabe, akokangola ye penza mpo na bopeto ya maboko na yo. »
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
