Yobo 22
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 « Boni, litomba nini Nzambe akoki kozwa epai ya moto? Ezala ata moto ya bwanya, azalaka na litomba kaka mpo na ye moko.
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Ezala soki ozali moyengebene, litomba nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akoki kozwa, ata ozali kobongisa nzela na yo ya bosembo?
For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4 Boni, okanisi ete ezali mpo na boyengebene na yo nde azali kopamela yo mpe kosambisa yo?
Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
5 Mabe na yo ezali monene te? Masumu na yo eleki ndelo te?
Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6 Ozalaki koluka na pamba ndanga epai ya bandeko na yo ya mibali, ozalaki kolongola bato bilamba mpe kotika bango bolumbu,
And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 ozalaki kopesa mayi te na moto oyo azalaki na posa ya mayi, mpe ozalaki kopimela moto oyo azalaki na nzala bilei,
Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 atako ozalaki moto monene, nkolo mabele, mpe ozalaki kovanda na mabele yango lokola moto ya lokumu;
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 ozalaki kozongisa basi bakufisa mibali maboko pamba, mpe ozalaki kosilisa makasi ya bana bitike.
But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Yango wana, mitambo ezingeli yo, kobebisama ya mbalakata ekomi kopesa yo somo,
Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11 molili makasi ezwi yo mpe ozali kokoka komona te, mpe mpela ezipi yo.
The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12 Boni, Nzambe azali te kuna na likolo, kati na Lola? Tala ndenge nini etando ya minzoto ezali likolo koleka!
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Nzokande, ozali koloba: ‹ Nzambe ayebi nini? Akoki kosambisa kati na mapata ya molili ya boye? ›
And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Mapata minene ezipi Ye, yango wana azali komona biso te, wana azali kotambola-tambola na etando ya Lola?
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 Olingi solo kotikala kaka na nzela ya kala, nzela oyo bato mabe balekelaki?
Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 Kufa ememaki bango na mbalakata, mpe miboko na bango etiolaki na mpela.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 Bazalaki koloba na Nzambe: ‹ Tika biso, biso moko! Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akosala biso nini? ›
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 Nzokande, Ye nde atondisaki bandako na bango na biloko ya kitoko. Yango wana, ngai, naboyaka toli ya bato mabe.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 Bato ya sembo bazali komona kobebisama na bango mpe bazali kosepela, bayengebene bazali koseka bango mpe bazali koloba:
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 ‹ Solo, banguna na biso babebi, moto ezikisi bomengo na bango. ›
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 Zongisa boyokani na yo elongo na Ye mpe luka kimia. Na nzela wana, bomengo ekoya lisusu epai na yo.
Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22 Ndima malako oyo ekowuta na monoko na Ye, mpe batela maloba na Ye kati na motema na yo.
And receive a declaration 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.
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24 Bwaka wolo na yo kati na putulu, wolo na yo ya Ofiri kati na mabanga ya lubwaku;
You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 bongo Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akozala wolo na yo, mpe palata oyo eleki kitoko mpo na yo.
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Solo, okozwa esengo epai ya Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso mpe okotombola elongi na yo epai ya Nzambe.
Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 Okosambela Ye, Ye akoyoka yo, mpe okokokisa ndayi na yo.
And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
28 Makambo oyo okokana, ekosalema, mpe pole ekongenga na nzela na yo.
And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29 Soki bato balembi, mpe yo olobi: ‹ Telema! › Nzambe akobikisa bango,
Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 akokangola ata moto oyo asali mabe, akokangola ye penza mpo na bopeto ya maboko na yo. »
He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
