Yobo 3
1 Sima na yango, Yobo afungolaki monoko na ye mpe alakelaki mokolo ya mbotama na ye mabe.
After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 Yobo alobaki:
And Job commenced, and said,
3 « Tika ete mokolo ya mbotama na ngai, mpe butu oyo elobaki: ‹ Mwana mobali moko abotami, › ekufa!
Oh that the day whereon I was born might perish, and the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived.
4 Tika ete mokolo yango ebongwana molili! Tika ete, wuta na likolo, Nzambe akanisa yango lisusu te! Tika ete pole engengela yango lisusu te!
May that day be [covered with] darkness; may not God from above inquire for it, and may no light beam upon it.
5 Tika ete molili mpe elilingi ya kufa ezingela yango! Tika ete lipata ezipa yango, mpe molili ebangisa pole na yango!
Oh that darkness and the shadow of death might defile it; may a cloud rest upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 Tika ete molili makasi ekotela butu yango, ete batanga yango lisusu te kati na mikolo ya mibu to kati na mikolo ya basanza!
Yon night — let darkness seize upon it; let it not be united to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the [periods lighted by the] moon.
7 Tika ete butu yango etikala ekomba, ete koganga moko te ya esengo eyokana na butu yango!
Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.
8 Tika ete bato oyo balakelaka mikolo mabe, bato oyo balamusaka bilima minene ya mayi, balakela yango mabe!
Let those denounce it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning cry.
9 Tika ete minzoto ya tongo na yango ekoma molili, ezela na pamba tongo oyo ekotana mpe emona kongenga ya tongo te.
Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it hope for light, and there be none; and let it not behold the eyelids of the morning-dawn;
10 Pamba te ekangelaki ngai te bikuke ya libumu ya mama na ngai mpo na kobombela miso na ngai pasi ya boye!
Because God closed not against me the doors of the womb, and thus concealed trouble from my eyes.
11 Mpo na nini namikufelaki te kati na libumu ya mama na ngai? Mpo na nini nakataki motema te tango nabimaki na libumu ya mama na ngai?
Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
12 Mpo na nini mabolongo eyambaki ngai? Mpo na nini mama amelisaki ngai mabele?
Wherefore were knees ready to receive me? and for what purpose were breasts there that I might suck?
13 Pamba te sik’oyo, nalingaki na ngai kolala na kimia, nalingaki na ngai kokufa mpe kopema
For now should I be lying still and be quiet; I should sleep: then would I be at rest,
14 elongo na bakonzi mpe bapesi toli ya mokili, oyo bamitongelaki malita na bango kasi lelo ebeba,
With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build up ruined places for themselves;
15 elongo na bakambi oyo bazalaki na wolo mpe batondisa palata kati na bandako na bango.
Or with princes possessing gold, who fill their houses with silver;
16 Mpo na nini babombaki ngai te na se ya mabele lokola zemi oyo esopani to lokola mwana oyo atikala komona te pole ya mokolo?
Or as an untimely birth, hidden [from view] I should not exist; as infants that never have seen the light;
17 Kuna, bato mabe batikaka konyokola bato, bato oyo balembi bazwaka bopemi,
There [where] the wicked cease from troubling; and where the exhausted weary are at rest;
18 bato ya boloko bazwaka kimia mpe bayokaka lisusu te mongongo ya mokengeli.
[Where] the prisoners repose together, [and] they hear no more the taskmaster's voice.
19 Ezala mobola to mozwi, bango mibale bazalaka kuna, mpe mowumbu akangolamaka na maboko ya nkolo na ye.
The small with the great is there, and the servant free from his master.
20 Mpo na nini pole epesamelaka bato ya pasi? Mpo na nini bomoi epesamelaka moto oyo azali na pasi na motema?
Wherefore giveth He now light to the labor-laden, and life unto the bitter in soul?
21 Bazelaka kufa, kasi eyaka te; nzokande balukaka yango koleka bozwi oyo ebombama,
Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
22 balingaki kotonda na esengo mpe kosepela soki bamoni kunda!
Who would rejoice even to exulting, who would be glad could they but find a grave?
23 Mpo na nini bomoi epesamela moto oyo nzela na ye ebombama, moto oyo Nzambe azingela lokola lopango?
[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God hath placed a fence?
24 Pamba te kolela ekomi bilei na ngai, bileli na ngai ezali kosopana lokola mayi.
For before my food cometh my groaning, and like the water are poured forth my loud complaints.
25 Makambo oyo nazalaki kobanga, yango nde ezali kokomela ngai; oyo nazalaki koyokela somo, yango nde ezali kosalemela ngai.
Because what I greatly dreaded is come upon me, and what I apprehended is come unto me.
26 Nazangi kimia, motema na ngai ezali kokita te mpe nazangi bopemi; kasi minyoko na minyoko kaka nde nazali na yango. »
I have had no safety, and no quiet, and no rest; and [now] harrowing trouble is come.
