Yobo 4
1 Elifazi, moto ya Temani, azwaki maloba mpe alobaki:
Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, 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 one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?
3 Kanisa nanu ndenge ozalaki koteya bato ebele, ndenge ozalaki kolendisa bato oyo balembaki!
Lo! thou hast admonished many, and, slack hands, hast thou been wont to uphold:
4 Maloba na yo ezalaki kolendisa bato oyo bazalaki kotepatepa, mpe oyo mabolongo na bango ezalaki kolemba.
Him that was stumbling, have thy words raised up, and, sinking knees, hast thou strengthened.
5 Kasi awa sik’oyo pasi ekomeli yo, olembi na yo! Awa pasi ebeti yo, okomi na yo koyoka somo!
But, now, it cometh upon thee, and thou despairest, It smiteth even thee, and thou art dismayed.
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, thy reverence, thy confidence? And is not, thy hope, the very 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, being innocent, hath perished, or when, the upright, have been cut off.
8 Kolanda makambo oyo ngai nasili komona, bato oyo basalaka mabe, mpe ba-oyo balonaka minyoko, babukaka mpe kaka mabe lokola mbuma;
So far as I have seen, They who plow for iniquity and sow misery, reap the same:
9 bakufaka na mopepe ya Nzambe mpe basilaka na mopepe ya kanda na Ye.
By the blast of GOD, they perish, And, by the breath 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.
[Notwithstanding] the roaring of the lion, and the noise of the howling lion, yet, the teeth of the fierce lions, are broken:
11 Nkosi ekufaka mpo na kozanga nyama ya kolia, mpe bana ya nkosi ya mwasi epanzanaka.
The strong lion perishing for lack of prey, Even the whelps of the lioness, are scattered.
12 Liloba moko eyelaki ngai na nkuku, mpe matoyi na ngai eyokaki yango na se penza:
But, unto me, something was brought by stealth, —and mine ear caught a whispering of the same:
13 kati na bandoto ya butu, na tango bato bazwaka pongi makasi,
When there were thoughts, from visions of the night, —When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 kobanga mpe somo ekangaki ngai mpe eningisaki mikuwa na ngai nyonso;
Dread, came upon me, and trembling, The multitude of my bones, it put in dread:
15 molimo moko elekaki liboso ya elongi na ngai lokola mopepe, mpe suki ya moto na ngai etelemaki.
Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-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 distinguish its appearance, I looked, but there was no form before mine eyes, —A whispering voice, I heard: —
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? Or 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,
Lo! in his own servants, he trusteth not, and, his own messengers, he chargeth with error:
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 the dwellers in houses of clay, which, in the dust, have their foundation, which are crushed sooner than a 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;
Betwixt morning and evening, are they broken in pieces, With none to save, they utterly perish:
21 basinga oyo esimbaka bandako na bango ya kapo epikolamaka na mbalakata, mpe bakufaka ndenge wana bazanga bwanya. ›
Is not their tent-rope within them, torn away? They die, disrobed of wisdom!
