Joba 22
1 Le hoe ty natoi’ i Elifaze nte-Temane:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 Mahasoa an’Andrianañahare hao t’indaty? mahafitoloñ’aze hao t’ie bey moko?
Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
3 Mahafale i El-Sadai hao t’ie vantañe? aman-tambe’e hao te fonire’o tsy aman-kila o sata’oo?
Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
4 Ty fañeveña’o ama’e hao ty añendaha’e azo hizaka’e?
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Tsy mitoabotse hao o tahi’oo? Tsi-vatse o hakeo’oo!
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 Nangala’o tsoake ami’ty tsy vente’e i rahalahi’oy, vaho hinoli’o hiboridañe.
For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
7 Tsy nanjotsoa’o rano ty taliñiereñe hinoma’e, vaho nitana’o amy salikoeñey ty mahakama.
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 Tompo’ ty tane toy ty fanalolahy; vaho mpioneñe ao ty aman-kasy.
For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 Nampolie’o hara’e o vantotseo, vaho navitso’o ty taña’ o bode-raeo.
You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 Toly t’ie arikoboñem-pandrike, naho itsoborean-ka’endrahañe;
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 an-kamoromoroñañe tsy hahaisaha’o, vaho mandipots’azo ty rano bey.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 Tsy andindin-dikerañe ao hao t’i Andrianañahare? Isaho ka ty haabo’ o vasiañeo, t’ie an-tiotiots’ eñe.
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 Hoe irehe: Ino ty arofoanan’ Añahare? hahafiranga o ieñe milodolodoo hao ty fizakà’e?
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Mañibok’ aze o rahoñe mikopokeo tsy hahavazohoa’e, vaho an-kivoho’ i likerañey ty fidraidraita’e.
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Horihe’o hao i lalañe haehae nilià’ ondaty tsereheñeoy?
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 O sinintoñe aolo’ ty andro’eo; ie sinaon-drano-vohitse o faha’eo,
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 ie nanao ty hoe aman’ Añahare: Ihankaño zahay; naho, Ino ty mete hanoa’ i El-Sadai?
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Mbe natsafe’e hasoa avao ty anjomba’e. Fe lavits’ ahy ty famerea’ o tsivokatseo.
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 Oni’ o vañoñeo Izay, le fale, iankahafa’ o malioo añ’ inje,
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 [ami’ty hoe]: Toe naitoeñe o malaiñe anaio, niforototoe’ ty afo o vara’ iareoo.
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 Aa le mifampilongoa ama’e, hanintsiña’o, hitotsaha’ ty soa.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Ehe, rambeso am-palie’e ty Hake, vaho ahajao añ’arofo’o ao o tsara’eo.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 Mimpolia amy El-Sadai le ho vaoen-drehe, ampisitaho lavitse i kiboho’oy ty tsy to.
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 Ahajao an-debok’ ao ty vara, ty volamena’ i Ofire amo vato an-torahañeo.
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 Le i El-Sadai ty ho vara’o, ie ty volafoty ki’e ama’o,
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 vaho hifalea’o t’i El-Sadai, le hampiandrae’o aman’ Añahare ty lahara’o.
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Hihalaly ama’e irehe, le hijanjiña’e, ie havaha’o o nifantà’oo.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Hisafiry irehe, le ho tafetetse vaho hireandreañe amo lala’oo ty hazavàñe.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 Naho eo ty areke, le hanoa’o ty hoe: tsiringèvotse! ty mirè-batañe ro haha.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 Havotso’e hao ty tsy malio tahiñe, hañaha azo ty faliom-pità’o.
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
