Yobo 4
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, 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 essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Kanisa nanu ndenge ozalaki koteya bato ebele, ndenge ozalaki kolendisa bato oyo balembaki!
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Maloba na yo ezalaki kolendisa bato oyo bazalaki kotepatepa, mpe oyo mabolongo na bango ezalaki kolemba.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 Kasi awa sik’oyo pasi ekomeli yo, olembi na yo! Awa pasi ebeti yo, okomi na yo koyoka somo!
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 Boni, kondima na yo epai ya Nzambe esengeli te kozala likonzi na yo, mpe bosembo na yo esengeli te kosimba elikya na yo?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity 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 where were the righteous destroyed?
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, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 bakufaka na mopepe ya Nzambe mpe basilaka na mopepe ya kanda na Ye.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
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 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 have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 Liloba moko eyelaki ngai na nkuku, mpe matoyi na ngai eyokaki yango na se penza:
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 kati na bandoto ya butu, na tango bato bazwaka pongi makasi,
In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
14 kobanga mpe somo ekangaki ngai mpe eningisaki mikuwa na ngai nyonso;
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 molimo moko elekaki liboso ya elongi na ngai lokola mopepe, mpe suki ya moto na ngai etelemaki.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body 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, but I could not recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 ‹ Boni, moto akoki solo koleka Nzambe na bosembo to akoki solo koleka Mokeli na ye na bule?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can 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, in his servants he putteth no trust, 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 less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by 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 broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 basinga oyo esimbaka bandako na bango ya kapo epikolamaka na mbalakata, mpe bakufaka ndenge wana bazanga bwanya. ›
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
