Yobu 22
1 Awo Erifaazi Omutemani n’addamu n’ayogera nti,
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 “Omuntu ayinza okugasa Katonda? Wadde oyo ow’amagezi ayinza okumuyamba?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Ayinzabyonna yandifunye kwesiima ki singa wali mutuukirivu? Yandiganyuddwa ki singa amakubo go gaali magolokofu?
For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4 “Akukangavvula lwa kumutya era kyava akuvunaana?
Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
5 Okwonoona kwo si kunene nnyo? Ebibi byo si bingi nnyo?
Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6 Kubanga waggya ku muganda wo emisingo awatali nsonga; waggya engoye ku bantu, n’obaleka bwereere.
And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 Tewawa bakoowu mazzi, abaagala wabamma emmere,
Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 wadde nga wali musajja wa maanyi, eyalina ettaka, omusajja ow’ekitiibwa, era nga byonna ggwe nnyini byo.
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 Weegobako bannamwandu bagende nga toliiko ky’obawadde; abatalina bakitaabwe n’obamalamu amaanyi.
But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Emitego kyegivudde gikwetooloola. Lwaki entiisa ey’amangu ekujjira?
Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11 Lwaki enzikiza ekutte nnyo tosobola kulaba, era lwaki amataba gakubikkako?
The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12 “Katonda tali waggulu mu ggulu? Era laba, emmunyeenye ezisingayo okuba waggulu, nga bwe ziri ewala!
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Ate n’ogamba nti, ‘Katonda amanyi ki? Ayinza okulamulira mu kizikiza?
And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Ebire ebikutte bimubikkako, n’aba ng’atatulaba bw’aba atambula mu bifo by’omu ggulu.’
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 Onoosigala mu kkubo ery’edda abasajja abakozi b’ebibi lye baakwata?
Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 Baatwalibwa ng’ekiseera kyabwe tekinnatuuka, emisingi gyabwe gyatwalibwa amataba.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 Be bagamba Katonda nti, ‘Tulekere emirembe! Ayinzabyonna ayinza kutukola ki?’
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 Ate nga ye, ye yajjuza ennyumba zaabwe ebintu ebirungi, noolwekyo neewuunya nnyo amagezi g’abakozi b’ebibi.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 Abatuukirivu balaba okuzikirira kwabwe ne bajaguza; abataliiko musango babasekerera nga bagamba nti,
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 ‘Ddala abalabe baffe bazikiridde, era omuliro gulidde obugagga bwabwe.’
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 “Gonderanga Katonda ofunenga emirembe; mu ngeri eno ebirungi lwe binajjanga gy’oli.
Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22 Kkiriza ebiragiro ebiva mu kamwa ke era oteeke ebigambo bye mu mutima gwo.
And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Bw’onodda eri oyo Ayinzabyonna, onodda buggya, bwonooteeka ebibi ewala ne weema yo,
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24 n’oteeka n’amayinja go ag’omuwendo mu ttaka, zaabu yo eya Ofiri ku njazi z’omu mugga,
You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 awo Ayinzabyonna anaabeeranga zaabu yo, era ffeeza esingayo obulungi.
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Ddala ddala olisanyukira mu oyo Ayinzabyonna era oyimuse amaaso go eri Katonda.
Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 Olimusaba, alikuwulira, era olituukiriza obweyamo bwo.
And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
28 Ky’olisalawo kirikolebwa, era ekitangaala kirimulisa amakubo go.
And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29 Abantu abalala bwe balisuulibwa n’ogamba nti, ‘Bayimuse!’ Olwo alirokola abagudde.
Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 Alinunula n’oyo aliko omusango, alinunulwa olw’obulongoofu bw’emikono gyo.”
He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
