Yobo 4
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 « Soki moto moko ameki koloba na yo ata liloba moko, boni, okotomboka mpo na yango te? Kasi nani akoki penza kokanga motema mpe kozanga maloba?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Kanisa nanu ndenge ozalaki koteya bato ebele, ndenge ozalaki kolendisa bato oyo balembaki!
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Maloba na yo ezalaki kolendisa bato oyo bazalaki kotepatepa, mpe oyo mabolongo na bango ezalaki kolemba.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 Kasi awa sik’oyo pasi ekomeli yo, olembi na yo! Awa pasi ebeti yo, okomi na yo koyoka somo!
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Boni, kondima na yo epai ya Nzambe esengeli te kozala likonzi na yo, mpe bosembo na yo esengeli te kosimba elikya na yo?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 Kanisa nanu: Nani akotikala kokufa te mpo ete asalaka mabe te? Esika nini bato ya sembo bakotikala kokufa te?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 Kolanda makambo oyo ngai nasili komona, bato oyo basalaka mabe, mpe ba-oyo balonaka minyoko, babukaka mpe kaka mabe lokola mbuma;
Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 bakufaka na mopepe ya Nzambe mpe basilaka na mopepe ya kanda na Ye.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Nkosi ekoki na yango koganga, mpe mwana ya nkosi ekoki kotia makelele ndenge elingi, kasi Nzambe abukaka minu ya nkosi.
The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
11 Nkosi ekufaka mpo na kozanga nyama ya kolia, mpe bana ya nkosi ya mwasi epanzanaka.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 Liloba moko eyelaki ngai na nkuku, mpe matoyi na ngai eyokaki yango na se penza:
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 kati na bandoto ya butu, na tango bato bazwaka pongi makasi,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 kobanga mpe somo ekangaki ngai mpe eningisaki mikuwa na ngai nyonso;
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
15 molimo moko elekaki liboso ya elongi na ngai lokola mopepe, mpe suki ya moto na ngai etelemaki.
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
16 Molimo yango etelemaki wana, kasi nalongaki te kososola soki ezali nini; elilingi yango etelemaki liboso ya miso na ngai, mpe nayokaki mongongo moko koloba na se penza:
It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
17 ‹ Boni, moto akoki solo koleka Nzambe na bosembo to akoki solo koleka Mokeli na ye na bule?
Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
18 Soki Nzambe atielaka basali na Ye motema te, soki kutu amonaka mabunga epai ya ba-anjelu na Ye,
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 mpo na nini te epai ya bato oyo basalema na mabele, ba-oyo bazali kaka putulu mpe bakoki kofinafina bango lokola mitsopi?
How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
20 Kobanda na tongo kino na pokwa, bakataka-kataka bango na biteni; bakufaka mpo na libela, mpe moto ata moko te alandelaka likambo na bango;
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 basinga oyo esimbaka bandako na bango ya kapo epikolamaka na mbalakata, mpe bakufaka ndenge wana bazanga bwanya. ›
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
