1
Ndipo huyo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu, na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2
Je! Yumkini mtu awaye yote kumfaa Mungu? Hakika yeye aliye na hekima hujifaa mwenyewe.
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3
Je! Mwenyezi hupata furaha katika wewe kuwa mwenye haki? Au je, ni faida kwake, kwamba wafanya njia zako kuwa timilifu?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4
Je! Ni kwa wewe kumcha yeye anakukemea? Na kuingia hukumuni nawe?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5
Je! Uovu wako si mkuu? Wala maovu yako hayana mwisho.
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6
Kwa kuwa umetwaa dhamana kwa nduguyo bure, Na kuwavua nguo zao walio uchi.
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7
Hukumpa maji ya kunywa huyo aliyechoka, Nawe umemnyima chakula huyo mwenye njaa.
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8
Lakini huyo shujaa, nchi ilikuwa yake; Na huyo mwenye kusifiwa, yeye aliikaa.
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9
Umewafukuza wanawake wajane hali ya utupu, Na mikono ya mayatima imevunjwa.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10
Kwa hiyo umezungukwa na mitego, Na hofu ya ghafula yakutaabisha,
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11
Au je! Huoni giza, Na maji mengi yanayokufunika?
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12
Je! Mungu hayuko mbinguni juu? Tena tazama umbali wa nyota, jinsi zilivyo juu!
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13
Nawe wasema, Mungu anajua nini? Je! Aweza kuamua kati ya giza kuu?
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14
Mawingu mazito ni kifuniko chake, hata asione; Naye yuatembea juu ya kuba ya mbingu.
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15
Je! Utaiandama njia ya zamani Waliyoikanyaga watu waovu?
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16
Ambao walinyakuliwa kabla ya wakati wao, Msingi wao ulimwagika kama kijito cha maji;
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17
Waliomwambia Mungu, Tuondokee; Tena, Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18
Naye ndiye aliyezijaza nyumba zao vitu vyema; Lakini mashauri ya waovu na yawe mbali nami.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19
Wenye haki huyaona hayo wakafurahi; Nao wasio na hatia huwacheka;
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20
Wasema, Hakika hao waliotuinukia wamekatiliwa mbali, Na mabaki yao moto umeyateketeza.
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21
Mjue sana Mungu, ili uwe na amani; Ndivyo mema yatakavyokujia.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22
Uyapokee, tafadhali, mafunzo yatokayo kinywani mwake, Na maneno yake yaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23
Ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utajengwa; Ukiuondoa udhalimu mbali na hema yako.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24
Nawe hazina zako ziweke mchangani, Na dhahabu ya Ofiri iweke kati ya mawe ya vijito;
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25
Naye Mwenyezi atakuwa hazina yako, Atakuwa ni fedha ya thamani kwako.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26
Kwani ndipo utakapojifurahisha katika Mwenyezi, Na kuinua uso wako kumwelekea Mungu.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27
Utamwomba yeye naye atakusikia; Nawe utazitimiliza nadhiri zako.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28
Nawe utakusudia neno, nalo litathibitika kwako; Na mwanga utaziangazia njia zako.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29
Hapo watakapokuangusha, utasema, Kuna kuinuka tena; Naye mnyenyekevu Mungu atamwokoa.
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30
Atamwokoa na huyo asiye na hatia; Naam, utaokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.</p>
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”