Yobo 22
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, 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.
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
3 Ezala soki ozali moyengebene, litomba nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akoki kozwa, ata ozali kobongisa nzela na yo ya bosembo?
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Boni, okanisi ete ezali mpo na boyengebene na yo nde azali kopamela yo mpe kosambisa yo?
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Mabe na yo ezali monene te? Masumu na yo eleki ndelo te?
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
6 Ozalaki koluka na pamba ndanga epai ya bandeko na yo ya mibali, ozalaki kolongola bato bilamba mpe kotika bango bolumbu,
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped 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,
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8 atako ozalaki moto monene, nkolo mabele, mpe ozalaki kovanda na mabele yango lokola moto ya lokumu;
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 ozalaki kozongisa basi bakufisa mibali maboko pamba, mpe ozalaki kosilisa makasi ya bana bitike.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Yango wana, mitambo ezingeli yo, kobebisama ya mbalakata ekomi kopesa yo somo,
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
11 molili makasi ezwi yo mpe ozali kokoka komona te, mpe mpela ezipi yo.
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12 Boni, Nzambe azali te kuna na likolo, kati na Lola? Tala ndenge nini etando ya minzoto ezali likolo koleka!
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 Nzokande, ozali koloba: ‹ Nzambe ayebi nini? Akoki kosambisa kati na mapata ya molili ya boye? ›
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Mapata minene ezipi Ye, yango wana azali komona biso te, wana azali kotambola-tambola na etando ya Lola?
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Olingi solo kotikala kaka na nzela ya kala, nzela oyo bato mabe balekelaki?
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Kufa ememaki bango na mbalakata, mpe miboko na bango etiolaki na mpela.
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
17 Bazalaki koloba na Nzambe: ‹ Tika biso, biso moko! Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akosala biso nini? ›
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
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 of the wicked is far from me.
19 Bato ya sembo bazali komona kobebisama na bango mpe bazali kosepela, bayengebene bazali koseka bango mpe bazali koloba:
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 ‹ Solo, banguna na biso babebi, moto ezikisi bomengo na bango. ›
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 Zongisa boyokani na yo elongo na Ye mpe luka kimia. Na nzela wana, bomengo ekoya lisusu epai na yo.
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 Ndima malako oyo ekowuta na monoko na Ye, mpe batela maloba na Ye kati na motema na yo.
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
23 Soki ozongi epai na Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso, soki obengani mabe mosika ya ndako na yo, bomengo na yo ekozongela yo.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 Bwaka wolo na yo kati na putulu, wolo na yo ya Ofiri kati na mabanga ya lubwaku;
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 bongo Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akozala wolo na yo, mpe palata oyo eleki kitoko mpo na yo.
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 Solo, okozwa esengo epai ya Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso mpe okotombola elongi na yo epai ya Nzambe.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Okosambela Ye, Ye akoyoka yo, mpe okokokisa ndayi na yo.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 Makambo oyo okokana, ekosalema, mpe pole ekongenga na nzela na yo.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Soki bato balembi, mpe yo olobi: ‹ Telema! › Nzambe akobikisa bango,
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 akokangola ata moto oyo asali mabe, akokangola ye penza mpo na bopeto ya maboko na yo. »
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
