Zophar's Speech
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Ndipo Sofari Mnaamathi akajibu, na kusema,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be justified?
Je! Huu wingi wa maneno usijibiwe? Na mtu aliyejaa maneno, je! Ahesabiwe kuwa na haki?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace?
And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Je! Majivuno yako yawanyamazishe watu wawe kimya? Nawe hapo ufanyapo dhihaka, je! Hapana mtu atakayekutahayarisha?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in thine eyes.
Kwa kuwa wewe wasema, Mafunzo yangu ni safi, Nami ni safi machoni pako.
5 But oh that God would speak,
And open his lips against thee;
Lakini, laiti Mungu angenena, Na kuifunua midomo yake juu yako;
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom,
That they are double to that which is!
Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth .
Tena akuonyeshe hizo siri za hekima, Ya kuwa hufanikiwa katika kuyatimiza makusudi yake! Ujue basi ya kuwa Mungu akuachilia katika uovu wako.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God?
Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Je! Wewe waweza kuuvumbua ukuu wa Mungu? Waweza kuufikilia upeo wa huyo Mwenyezi?
8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do?
Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
Ni juu mno kama mbingu; waweza kufanya nini wewe? Ni wenye kina kuliko kuzimuni; waweza kujua nini wewe?
9 The measure thereof is longer than the earth,
And broader than the sea.
Cheo chake ni kirefu kuliko dunia, Ni kipana zaidi ya bahari.
10 If he cut off, and shut up,
Or gather together, then who can hinder him?
Yeye akipita, na kufunga watu, Na kuwaita hukumuni, ni nani basi awezaye kumzuia?
11 For he knoweth vain men:
He seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?
Kwani yeye awajua watu baradhuli; Huona na uovu pia, hata asipoufikiri.
12 For vain man would be wise,
Though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
Lakini mpumbavu aweza kupata ufahamu, Ingawa mwanadamu huzaliwa kama mtoto wa punda-mwitu.
13 If thou prepare thine heart,
And stretch out thine hands toward him;
Wewe ukiuweka moyo wako kwa uelekevu, Na kumnyoshea mikono yako;
14 If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away,
And let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
Ikiwa una uovu mkononi mwako, uweke mbali nawe, Wala usikubali upuzi kukaa hemani mwako;
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot;
Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
Hakika ndipo utakapopata kuinua uso pasipo ila; Naam, utathibitika, wala hutakuwa na hofu;
16 Because thou shalt forget thy misery,
And remember it as waters that pass away:
Kwa kuwa utasahau mashaka yako; Utayakumbuka kama maji yaliyokwisha pita;
17 And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday;
Thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Na maisha yako yatakuwa meupe kuliko adhuhuri; Lijapokuwa ni giza, litakuwa kama alfajiri.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;
Yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Nawe utakuwa salama, kwa sababu kuna matumaini; Naam, utatafuta-tafuta kando yako, na kupumzika katika salama.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;
Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Tena utalala, wala hapana atakayekutia hofu; Naam, wengi watakutafuta uso wako.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.
Lakini macho ya waovu yataingia kiwi, Nao hawatakuwa na njia ya kukimbilia, Na matumaini yao yatakuwa ni kutoa roho.
