Ndipo huyo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu, na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
Je! Yumkini mtu awaye yote kumfaa Mungu? Hakika yeye aliye na hekima hujifaa mwenyewe.
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
Je! Mwenyezi hupata furaha katika wewe kuwa mwenye haki? Au je, ni faida kwake, kwamba wafanya njia zako kuwa timilifu?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
Je! Ni kwa wewe kumcha yeye anakukemea? Na kuingia hukumuni nawe?
Is it for your piety that he reproves you, That he enters with you into judgment?
Je! Uovu wako si mkuu? Wala maovu yako hayana mwisho.
Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
Kwa kuwa umetwaa dhamana kwa nduguyo bure, Na kuwavua nguo zao walio uchi.
For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, And stripped the naked of their clothing.
Hukumpa maji ya kunywa huyo aliyechoka, Nawe umemnyima chakula huyo mwenye njaa.
You haven't given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry.
Lakini huyo shujaa, nchi ilikuwa yake; Na huyo mwenye kusifiwa, yeye aliikaa.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
Umewafukuza wanawake wajane hali ya utupu, Na mikono ya mayatima imevunjwa.
You have sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Kwa hiyo umezungukwa na mitego, Na hofu ya ghafula yakutaabisha,
Therefore snares are round about you. Sudden fear troubles you,
Au je! Huoni giza, Na maji mengi yanayokufunika?
Or darkness, so that you can not see, And floods of waters cover you.
Je! Mungu hayuko mbinguni juu? Tena tazama umbali wa nyota, jinsi zilivyo juu!
"Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are!
Nawe wasema, Mungu anajua nini? Je! Aweza kuamua kati ya giza kuu?
You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
Mawingu mazito ni kifuniko chake, hata asione; Naye yuatembea juu ya kuba ya mbingu.
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'
Je! Utaiandama njia ya zamani Waliyoikanyaga watu waovu?
Will you keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
Ambao walinyakuliwa kabla ya wakati wao, Msingi wao ulimwagika kama kijito cha maji;
Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
Waliomwambia Mungu, Tuondokee; Tena, Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?
Who said to God, 'Depart from us;' And, 'What can the Almighty do for us?'
Naye ndiye aliyezijaza nyumba zao vitu vyema; Lakini mashauri ya waovu na yawe mbali nami.
Yet he filled their houses with good things, But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Wenye haki huyaona hayo wakafurahi; Nao wasio na hatia huwacheka;
The righteous see it, and are glad; The innocent ridicule them,
Wasema, Hakika hao waliotuinukia wamekatiliwa mbali, Na mabaki yao moto umeyateketeza.
Saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'
Mjue sana Mungu, ili uwe na amani; Ndivyo mema yatakavyokujia.
"Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
Uyapokee, tafadhali, mafunzo yatokayo kinywani mwake, Na maneno yake yaweke moyoni mwako.
Please receive instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in your heart.
Ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utajengwa; Ukiuondoa udhalimu mbali na hema yako.
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, If you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
Nawe hazina zako ziweke mchangani, Na dhahabu ya Ofiri iweke kati ya mawe ya vijito;
Lay your treasure in the dust, The gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
Naye Mwenyezi atakuwa hazina yako, Atakuwa ni fedha ya thamani kwako.
The Almighty will be your treasure, Precious silver to you.
Kwani ndipo utakapojifurahisha katika Mwenyezi, Na kuinua uso wako kumwelekea Mungu.
For then shall you delight yourself in the Almighty, And shall lift up your face to God.
Utamwomba yeye naye atakusikia; Nawe utazitimiliza nadhiri zako.
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
Nawe utakusudia neno, nalo litathibitika kwako; Na mwanga utaziangazia njia zako.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you. Light shall shine on your ways.
Hapo watakapokuangusha, utasema, Kuna kuinuka tena; Naye mnyenyekevu Mungu atamwokoa.
When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.
Atamwokoa na huyo asiye na hatia; Naam, utaokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.</p>
He will even deliver him who is not innocent; Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."