Yobu 31
1 “Nakola endagaano n’amaaso gange; obutatunuulira muwala n’amaaso ag’obukaba.
A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
2 Kiki Katonda kye yandinsasudde okuva waggulu, omugabo ogwandivudde eri oyo Ayinzabyonna ali waggulu?
And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
3 Emitawaana tegijjira abo abatali batukuvu, n’okulaba ennaku ne kujjira abakola eby’obujeemu?
Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
4 Amakubo gange gonna tagalaba, era tamanyi ntambula yange?
Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
5 Obanga natambulira mu bulimba era nga n’ekigere kyange kyayanguyiriza okukola obukuusa;
[And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
6 leka mpimibwe ku minzaani ya Katonda amanye obutuukirivu bwange.
Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
7 Obanga ekigere kyange kyali kikyamye okuva mu kkubo, n’omutima gwange ne gugoberera amaaso gange, engalo zange ne zibaako ebbala lyonna;
If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
8 kale nsige, omulala abirye, weewaawo ebirime byange bikuulibwe.
Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
9 Obanga omutima gwange gwali gusendeddwasendeddwa omukazi, oba ne mmuteegera ku mulyango gwa muliraanwa,
If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
10 kale omukazi wange ase eŋŋaano y’omusajja omulala, n’abasajja abalala beebake naye.
Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
11 Kubanga ekyo kyandibadde kya kivve, ekibi ekiŋŋwanira okubonerezebwa.
For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;
12 Ogwo gwandibadde muliro ogwokya okutuusa mu kuzikirira, ogwandyokezza ebyange byonna bye nasimba.”
For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
13 “Obanga nnali nnyoomye ensonga y’omuddu wange oba omuddu wange omukazi, bwe banninaako ensonga,
If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
14 kale ndikola ntya Katonda bw’alinnyimukiramu? Era bw’alimbuuza, ndimuddamu ki?
What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
15 Eyantonda mu lubuto nabo si ye yabatonda? Ffenna si ye yatukola mu mbuto za bannyaffe?
Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?
16 “Obanga nnamma omwavu ekintu kyonna, era obanga nakaabya nnamwandu;
If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];
17 obanga nnali ndidde akamere kange nzekka atalina kitaawe n’atalyako,
Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
18 kubanga okuva mu buto bwange namulera nga kitaawe, era okuva mu lubuto lwa mmange nayamba nnamwandu.
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )
19 Obanga nnali ndabye omuntu yenna ng’afa olw’okubulwa ebyambalo, oba ali mu kwetaaga atalina kye yeebikka;
If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
20 mpozzi omutima gwe, gwe gutansiima, olw’okumubugumya n’ebyoya by’endiga zange;
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 obanga nayimusa omukono gwange eri abatalina bakitaabwe, kubanga mmanyi nti, mmanyiganye n’ab’obuyinza,
If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
22 kale omukono gwange gukutuke ku kibegabega kyange, leka gukutukireyo mu kinywa we guyungira.
Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
23 Olw’okutya okuzikirizibwa Katonda n’olw’obukulu bwe, nnali sisobola kukola bintu ng’ebyo.
For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
24 “Obanga nateeka obweyamo bwange mu zaabu oba ne ŋŋamba zaabu ennongoose nti, ‘Ggwe bwesige bwange;’
If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
25 obanga neeyagala olw’okuba n’obugagga obungi, oba olw’okuba emikono gyange gy’ali ginfunyisizza bingi;
If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 obanga nnali ntunuulidde enjuba, oba omwezi nga byaka mu kitiibwa,
If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
27 omutima gwange ne gusendebwasendebwa mu kyama, ne mbinywegera nga mbisaamu ekitiibwa,
And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
28 era n’ekyo kyandibadde kibi ekiŋŋwanyiza okusalirwa omusango olw’obutaba mwesigwa eri Katonda ali waggulu.”
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
29 “Obanga nasanyuka ng’omulabe wange afunye emitawaana oba ne njaguza olw’ebizibu ebyamutuukako,
If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —
30 sakkiriza kamwa kange kwonoona nga nkolimira obulamu bwe.
But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —
31 Abantu b’omu nnyumba yange bwe baba tebabuuzanga nti, ‘Ani atakkuse nnyama?’
If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —
32 Tewali mutambuze yasula ku kkubo, kubanga oluggi lwange lwali luggule eri buli muyise.
In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
33 Obanga nakweka ekibi kyange ng’abantu bwe bakola, nga nkweka obutali butuukirivu bwange mu mutima gwange,
If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
34 olw’okutya ekibiina, nga ntya okuswala mu kika, ne nsirika ne ntya n’okufuluma ebweru,
Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the door; —
35 so nga waliwo ayinza okumpulira, leka nteekeko omukono ku mpoza yange, leka Ayinzabyonna anziremu; n’oyo ampawaabira abiteeke mu buwandiike.
Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —
36 “Ddala ddala nandibyambadde ku kibegabega kyange, nandibyambadde ku mutwe ng’engule.
Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
37 Nandimunnyonnyodde buli kifo we nalinnya ekigere, nandimusemberedde ng’omulangira.
The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—
38 “Singa ettaka lyange linkaabirira, n’ebinnya byalyo bye nsimye ne bitotobala n’amaziga;
If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
39 obanga ndiddemu ebibala awatali kusasula, era ne ndeetera bannannyini lyo okufa,
If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
40 leka omwennyango gumere mu kifo ky’eŋŋaano, n’omuddo oguwunya gumere mu kifo kya sayiri.” Ebigambo bya Yobu byakoma wano.
Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
