1
Ndipo Elifazi, Mtemani, akajibu, na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2
Je! Yapasa mtu mwenye hekima kujibu kwa ujuzi wa uvuvio, Na kujaza tumbo lake na upepo wa mashariki?
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3
Je! Ahoji na mazungumzo yasiyo faida, Au kwa maneno ambayo hawezi kufanya mema kwayo?
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4
Naam, wewe waondoa kicho, Nawe wazuia ibada mbele za Mungu.
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5
Kwani uovu wako unakufundisha kinywa chako, Nawe wachagua ulimi wake mwenye hila.
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6
Kinywa chako mwenyewe chakuhukumia makosa, wala si mimi; Naam, midomo yako mwenyewe hushuhudia juu yako.
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7
Je! Wewe u mtu wa kwanza aliyezaliwa? Au, ulizawa wewe kabla ya milima?
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8
Je! Umesikia mashauri ya siri ya Mungu? Nawe je! Wazuia hekima iwe yako tu?
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9
Je! Wewe wajua neno lipi, ambalo sisi hatulijui? Nawe wafahamu nini, ambalo halimo ndani yetu?
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10
Wenye mvi, na walio wazee sana, wote wapo pamoja nasi, Ambao ni wazee kuliko baba yako.
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side—men much older than your father.
11
Je! Utulizi wa Mungu ni mdogo sana kwako, Na hilo neno la upole si kitu kwako?
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12
Mbona moyo wako unakutaharakisha! Na macho yako, je! Kwani kung'ariza?
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13
Hata ukageuza roho yako iwe kinyume cha Mungu, Na kuyatoa maneno kama hayo kinywani mwako.
so that you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14
Je! Mwanadamu ni kitu gani, hata akawa safi? Huyo aliyezaliwa na mwanamke, hata awe na haki?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15
Yeye hawategemei watakatifu wake; Naam, mbingu nazo si safi machoni pake.
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16
Sembuse mtu ambaye ni mwenye kuchukiza na uchafu, Mwanadamu anywaye uovu kama anywavyo maji!
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17
Mimi nitakuonyesha, unisikilize; Na hayo yote niliyoyaona nitayanena;
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18
(Ambayo watu wenye hekima wameyatangaza Tokea baba zao, wala hawakuyaficha;
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19
Waliopewa hiyo nchi peke yao, Wala mgeni hakupita kati yao);
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20
Mtu mwovu huwa na uchungu siku zake zote, Hata hesabu ya miaka aliyowekewa mwenye kuonea.
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21
Sauti za utisho zi masikioni mwake; Katika kufanikiwa kwake mtekaji nyara atamjia juu yake;
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22
Yeye hasadiki kwamba atarudi kutoka gizani, Naye hungojewa na upanga;
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23
Hutanga-tanga ili apate chakula, akisema, Ki wapi? Ajua kwamba siku ya giza i tayari karibu yake;
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24
Mateso na dhiki humtia hofu; Humshinda kama vile mfalme aliye tayari kwa vita;
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25
Kwa kuwa amenyosha mkono wake juu ya Mungu, Na kuendelea kwa kiburi kinyume cha Mwenyezi;
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26
Humshambulia na shingo ngumu, Kwa mafundo makubwa ya ngao zake;
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27
Kwa kuwa amefunika uso wake na kunona kwake, Na kuwandisha mafuta kiunoni mwake; Naye amekaa katika miji iliyo ukiwa,
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28
Katika nyumba ambazo hapana mtu azikaaye, Zilizokuwa tayari kuwa magofu.
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29
Hatakuwa tajiri, wala mali zake hazitadumu, Wala maongeo yao hayatainama nchi.
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30
Hataondoka gizani; Ndimi za moto zitayakausha matawi yake, Naye ataondoka kwa pumzi za kinywa chake.
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31
Asiutumainie ubatili, na kujidanganya; Kwa kuwa huo ubatili ndio utakaokuwa ujira wake.
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32
Jambo hili litatendeka kabla ya wakati wake, Na tawi lake halitasitawi.
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33
Atayapukutisha mapooza yake kama mzabibu, Na kuyatupa maua yake kama mzeituni.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34
Kwa kuwa jamii ya hao wasiomcha Mungu watakuwa tasa, Na moto utateketeza mahema yenye rushwa.
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35
Wao hutunga mimba ya madhara, na kuzaa uovu, Nalo tumbo lao hutengeza udanganyifu.</p>
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”