Yobo 22
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, 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 serviceable unto God? Truly the intelligent is serviceable unto himself.
3 Ezala soki ozali moyengebene, litomba nini Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akoki kozwa, ata ozali kobongisa nzela na yo ya bosembo?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it any gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4 Boni, okanisi ete ezali mpo na boyengebene na yo nde azali kopamela yo mpe kosambisa yo?
Is it out of fear of thee that he will reproach thee? or go with thee into judgment?
5 Mabe na yo ezali monene te? Masumu na yo eleki ndelo te?
Is not thy evil great? and no end to thy iniquities?
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 a pledge from thy brothers 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 from the hungry thou hast withholden bread.
8 atako ozalaki moto monene, nkolo mabele, mpe ozalaki kovanda na mabele yango lokola moto ya lokumu;
But as for the man of a strong arm, he obtained the land, and the highly honored could dwell therein.
9 ozalaki kozongisa basi bakufisa mibali maboko pamba, mpe ozalaki kosilisa makasi ya bana bitike.
Widows hast thou sent 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 are snares round about thee, and sudden dread terrifieth thee.
11 molili makasi ezwi yo mpe ozali kokoka komona te, mpe mpela ezipi yo.
Or seest thou not the darkness? and the abundance of water which covereth 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 beholding the highest elevation of the stars, however high they are?
13 Nzokande, ozali koloba: ‹ Nzambe ayebi nini? Akoki kosambisa kati na mapata ya molili ya boye? ›
But thou sayest, “What doth God know? can he judge behind the darkness?
14 Mapata minene ezipi Ye, yango wana azali komona biso te, wana azali kotambola-tambola na etando ya Lola?
Thick clouds are a covering for him, so that he will not see; and he walketh along on the circle of heaven.”
15 Olingi solo kotikala kaka na nzela ya kala, nzela oyo bato mabe balekelaki?
Wilt thou [thus] observe the path of ancient times which the men of injustice have trodden?
16 Kufa ememaki bango na mbalakata, mpe miboko na bango etiolaki na mpela.
Who were shrivelled up before their time, whose foundation was flooded away like a river;
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 wrought the Almighty for them?
18 Nzokande, Ye nde atondisaki bandako na bango na biloko ya kitoko. Yango wana, ngai, naboyaka toli ya bato mabe.
And yet it was he that filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
19 Bato ya sembo bazali komona kobebisama na bango mpe bazali kosepela, bayengebene bazali koseka bango mpe bazali koloba:
The righteous will see it, and be glad; and the innocent will laugh them to scorn.
20 ‹ Solo, banguna na biso babebi, moto ezikisi bomengo na bango. ›
“Is not he destroyed that rose up against us, and hath not the fire consumed what they had left?”
21 Zongisa boyokani na yo elongo na Ye mpe luka kimia. Na nzela wana, bomengo ekoya lisusu epai na yo.
Do but become acquainted with him, and be at peace: thereby will happiness come unto thee.
22 Ndima malako oyo ekowuta na monoko na Ye, mpe batela maloba na Ye kati na motema na yo.
Do but accept instruction from his mouth, and lay up his saying 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, so thou wilt but remove wrong-doing far away from thy tents.
24 Bwaka wolo na yo kati na putulu, wolo na yo ya Ofiri kati na mabanga ya lubwaku;
And throw down in the dust precious metals, and [the gold of] Ophir to the stones of the brooks:
25 bongo Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akozala wolo na yo, mpe palata oyo eleki kitoko mpo na yo.
Then will the Almighty be thy precious metal, and brightly-shining silver unto thee.
26 Solo, okozwa esengo epai ya Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso mpe okotombola elongi na yo epai ya Nzambe.
For then wilt thou have in the Almighty thy delight, and thou canst lift up unto God thy face.
27 Okosambela Ye, Ye akoyoka yo, mpe okokokisa ndayi na yo.
Thou wilt make entreaty unto him, and he will hear thee, and thy vows wilt thou pay.
28 Makambo oyo okokana, ekosalema, mpe pole ekongenga na nzela na yo.
And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee; and upon thy ways the light will shine.
29 Soki bato balembi, mpe yo olobi: ‹ Telema! › Nzambe akobikisa bango,
For when men are brought low, thou wilt say, Pride [hath done it]; but those of lowly eyes [God] will help.
30 akokangola ata moto oyo asali mabe, akokangola ye penza mpo na bopeto ya maboko na yo. »
He will even deliver him who is not guiltless: and thou wilt be delivered by the purity of thy hands.
