1
Ndipo huyo Elifazi, Mtemani, akajibu na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2
Mtu akijaribu kuzungumza nawe, je! Utaona ni vibaya? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asinene?
“If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?
3
Tazama, wewe umewafunza watu wengi, Nawe umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa minyonge.
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
4
Maneno yako yamemtegemeza huyo aliyekuwa anaanguka, Nawe umeyaimarisha magoti manyonge.
Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling.
5
Lakini sasa haya yamekufikilia wewe, nawe wafa moyo; Yamekugusa, nawe wafadhaika.
But now trouble has come upon you, and you are weary. It strikes you, and you are dismayed.
6
Je! Dini yako siyo mataraja yako, Na matumaini yako si huo uelekevu wa njia zako?
Is your reverence not your confidence, and the uprightness of your ways your hope?
7
Kumbuka, tafadhali, ni nani aliyeangamia akiwa hana hatia? Au hao waelekevu, walikatiliwa mbali wapi?
Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed?
8
Kama mimi nilivyoona, hao walimao maovu, Na kupanda madhara, huvuna yayo hayo.
As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
9
Kwa pumzi za Mungu huangamia. Na kwa kuvuma kwa hasira zake humalizika.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.
10
Kunguruma kwake simba, na sauti ya simba mkali, Na meno ya simba wachanga, yamevunjika.
The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11
Simba mzee huangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, Nao watoto wa simba mke wametawanyika mbalimbali.
The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12
Basi, nililetewa neno kwa siri, Sikio langu likasikia manong'ono yake.
Now a word came to me secretly; my ears caught a whisper of it.
13
Katika mawazo yaliyotoka katika maono ya usiku, Hapo usingizi mzito uwaangukiapo wanadamu.
In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14
Hofu iliniangukia na kutetema, Iliyoitetemesha mifupa yangu yote.
fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
15
Ndipo pepo ilipita mbele ya uso wangu; Na nywele za mwili wangu zilisimama.
Then a spirit glided past my face, and the hair on my body bristled.
16
Hiyo pepo ilisimama kimya, nisiweze kutambua sura zake, Mfano ulikuwa mbele ya macho yangu; Kulikuwa kimya, nami nilisikia sauti, ikinena,
It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:
17
Je! Binadamu atakuwa na haki kuliko Mungu? Je! Mtu atakuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?
18
Tazama, yeye hawategemei watumishi wake; Na malaika zake huwahesabia upuzi;
If God puts no trust in His servants, and He charges His angels with error,
19
Je! Si zaidi sana hao wakaao katika nyumba za udongo, Ambazo misingi yao i katika mchanga, Hao waliosetwa mbele ya nondo!
how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who can be crushed like a moth!
20
Kati ya asubuhi na jioni huvunjwa-vunjwa; Waangamia milele wala hapana atiaye moyoni.
They are smashed to pieces from dawn to dusk; unnoticed, they perish forever.
21
Je! Kamba ya hema yao haikung'olewa ndani yao? Wafa, kisha hali hawana akili.
Are not their tent cords pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’