1
Ndipo Sofari Mnaamathi akajibu, na kusema,
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2
Je! Huu wingi wa maneno usijibiwe? Na mtu aliyejaa maneno, je! Ahesabiwe kuwa na haki?
“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?
3
Je! Majivuno yako yawanyamazishe watu wawe kimya? Nawe hapo ufanyapo dhihaka, je! Hapana mtu atakayekutahayarisha?
Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?
4
Kwa kuwa wewe wasema, Mafunzo yangu ni safi, Nami ni safi machoni pako.
You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’
5
Lakini, laiti Mungu angenena, Na kuifunua midomo yake juu yako;
But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,
6
Tena akuonyeshe hizo siri za hekima, Ya kuwa hufanikiwa katika kuyatimiza makusudi yake! Ujue basi ya kuwa Mungu akuachilia katika uovu wako.
and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.
7
Je! Wewe waweza kuuvumbua ukuu wa Mungu? Waweza kuufikilia upeo wa huyo Mwenyezi?
Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?
8
Ni juu mno kama mbingu; waweza kufanya nini wewe? Ni wenye kina kuliko kuzimuni; waweza kujua nini wewe?
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
9
Cheo chake ni kirefu kuliko dunia, Ni kipana zaidi ya bahari.
Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10
Yeye akipita, na kufunga watu, Na kuwaita hukumuni, ni nani basi awezaye kumzuia?
If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?
11
Kwani yeye awajua watu baradhuli; Huona na uovu pia, hata asipoufikiri.
Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?
12
Lakini mpumbavu aweza kupata ufahamu, Ingawa mwanadamu huzaliwa kama mtoto wa punda-mwitu.
But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!
13
Wewe ukiuweka moyo wako kwa uelekevu, Na kumnyoshea mikono yako;
As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,
14
Ikiwa una uovu mkononi mwako, uweke mbali nawe, Wala usikubali upuzi kukaa hemani mwako;
if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,
15
Hakika ndipo utakapopata kuinua uso pasipo ila; Naam, utathibitika, wala hutakuwa na hofu;
then indeed you will lift up your face without blemish; you will stand firm and unafraid.
16
Kwa kuwa utasahau mashaka yako; Utayakumbuka kama maji yaliyokwisha pita;
For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.
17
Na maisha yako yatakuwa meupe kuliko adhuhuri; Lijapokuwa ni giza, litakuwa kama alfajiri.
Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
18
Nawe utakuwa salama, kwa sababu kuna matumaini; Naam, utatafuta-tafuta kando yako, na kupumzika katika salama.
You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.
19
Tena utalala, wala hapana atakayekutia hofu; Naam, wengi watakutafuta uso wako.
You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.
20
Lakini macho ya waovu yataingia kiwi, Nao hawatakuwa na njia ya kukimbilia, Na matumaini yao yatakuwa ni kutoa roho.
But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”