Yobo 22
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite 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.
“Can a man be useful to God? Can a wise man be useful to 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 pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
4 Boni, okanisi ete ezali mpo na boyengebene na yo nde azali kopamela yo mpe kosambisa yo?
Is it because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you and takes you to judgment?
5 Mabe na yo ezali monene te? Masumu na yo eleki ndelo te?
Is not your wickedness great? Is there no end to your iniquities?
6 Ozalaki koluka na pamba ndanga epai ya bandeko na yo ya mibali, ozalaki kolongola bato bilamba mpe kotika bango bolumbu,
For you have demanded guarantee of a loan from your brother for no reason, and you have stripped away clothing from the naked.
7 ozalaki kopesa mayi te na moto oyo azalaki na posa ya mayi, mpe ozalaki kopimela moto oyo azalaki na nzala bilei,
You have not given water to weary people to drink; you have withheld bread from hungry people
8 atako ozalaki moto monene, nkolo mabele, mpe ozalaki kovanda na mabele yango lokola moto ya lokumu;
although you, a mighty man, possessed the earth, although you, an honored man, lived in it.
9 ozalaki kozongisa basi bakufisa mibali maboko pamba, mpe ozalaki kosilisa makasi ya bana bitike.
You have sent widows away empty; the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Yango wana, mitambo ezingeli yo, kobebisama ya mbalakata ekomi kopesa yo somo,
Therefore, snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you.
11 molili makasi ezwi yo mpe ozali kokoka komona te, mpe mpela ezipi yo.
There is darkness, so that you cannot see; an abundance of waters 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 in the heights of heaven? Look at the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Nzokande, ozali koloba: ‹ Nzambe ayebi nini? Akoki kosambisa kati na mapata ya molili ya boye? ›
You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick 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 to him, so that he does not see us; he walks on the vault of heaven.'
15 Olingi solo kotikala kaka na nzela ya kala, nzela oyo bato mabe balekelaki?
Will you keep the old way that wicked men have walked—
16 Kufa ememaki bango na mbalakata, mpe miboko na bango etiolaki na mpela.
those who were snatched away before their time, those whose foundations have washed away like a river,
17 Bazalaki koloba na Nzambe: ‹ Tika biso, biso moko! Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso akosala biso nini? ›
those who said to God, 'Depart from us'; those who said, '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.
Yet he filled their houses with good things; the plans of wicked people are far from me.
19 Bato ya sembo bazali komona kobebisama na bango mpe bazali kosepela, bayengebene bazali koseka bango mpe bazali koloba:
Righteous people see their fate and are glad; innocent people laugh them to scorn.
20 ‹ Solo, banguna na biso babebi, moto ezikisi bomengo na bango. ›
They say, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off; fire has consumed their possessions.'
21 Zongisa boyokani na yo elongo na Ye mpe luka kimia. Na nzela wana, bomengo ekoya lisusu epai na yo.
Now agree with God and be at peace with him; in that way, 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, I beg you, instruction from his mouth; store 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 built up, if you put unrighteousness far away from your tents.
24 Bwaka wolo na yo kati na putulu, wolo na yo ya Ofiri kati na mabanga ya lubwaku;
Lay your treasure down in the dust, 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 will be your treasure, precious silver to you.
26 Solo, okozwa esengo epai ya Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso mpe okotombola elongi na yo epai ya Nzambe.
For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty; you will lift up your face to God.
27 Okosambela Ye, Ye akoyoka yo, mpe okokokisa ndayi na yo.
You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; you will pay your vows to him.
28 Makambo oyo okokana, ekosalema, mpe pole ekongenga na nzela na yo.
You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you; light will shine on your paths.
29 Soki bato balembi, mpe yo olobi: ‹ Telema! › Nzambe akobikisa bango,
God humbles a proud man, and he saves the one with lowered eyes.
30 akokangola ata moto oyo asali mabe, akokangola ye penza mpo na bopeto ya maboko na yo. »
He will rescue even the man who is not innocent; who will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”
