Yobo 4
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then Eliphaz the Themanite 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 we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?
3 Kanisa nanu ndenge ozalaki koteya bato ebele, ndenge ozalaki kolendisa bato oyo balembaki!
Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:
4 Maloba na yo ezalaki kolendisa bato oyo bazalaki kotepatepa, mpe oyo mabolongo na bango ezalaki kolemba.
Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:
5 Kasi awa sik’oyo pasi ekomeli yo, olembi na yo! Awa pasi ebeti yo, okomi na yo koyoka somo!
But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched 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?
Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?
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 ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?
8 Kolanda makambo oyo ngai nasili komona, bato oyo basalaka mabe, mpe ba-oyo balonaka minyoko, babukaka mpe kaka mabe lokola mbuma;
On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,
9 bakufaka na mopepe ya Nzambe mpe basilaka na mopepe ya kanda na Ye.
Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.
10 Nkosi ekoki na yango koganga, mpe mwana ya nkosi ekoki kotia makelele ndenge elingi, kasi Nzambe abukaka minu ya nkosi.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken:
11 Nkosi ekufaka mpo na kozanga nyama ya kolia, mpe bana ya nkosi ya mwasi epanzanaka.
The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.
12 Liloba moko eyelaki ngai na nkuku, mpe matoyi na ngai eyokaki yango na se penza:
Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.
13 kati na bandoto ya butu, na tango bato bazwaka pongi makasi,
In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,
14 kobanga mpe somo ekangaki ngai mpe eningisaki mikuwa na ngai nyonso;
Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:
15 molimo moko elekaki liboso ya elongi na ngai lokola mopepe, mpe suki ya moto na ngai etelemaki.
And when a spirit passed before me, 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:
There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:
17 ‹ Boni, moto akoki solo koleka Nzambe na bosembo to akoki solo koleka Mokeli na ye na bule?
Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Soki Nzambe atielaka basali na Ye motema te, soki kutu amonaka mabunga epai ya ba-anjelu na Ye,
Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:
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 shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with 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 till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.
21 basinga oyo esimbaka bandako na bango ya kapo epikolamaka na mbalakata, mpe bakufaka ndenge wana bazanga bwanya. ›
And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom.
