Eliphaz's Third Speech
What Use Are We Humans to God?
1 Eliphaz from Teman said:
2 What use are we humans
to God,
even the wisest of us?
3 If you were completely sinless,
that would still mean nothing
to God All-Powerful.
4 Is he correcting you
for worshiping him?
5 No! It's because of
your terrible and endless sins.
6 To guarantee payment of a debt,
you have taken clothes
from innocent people.
7 And you refused bread and water
to the hungry and thirsty,
8 although you were rich,
respected, and powerful.
9 You have turned away widows
and have broken the arms
of orphans.
10 That's why you were suddenly
trapped by terror,
11 blinded by darkness,
and drowned in a flood.
God Lives in the Heavens
12 God lives in the heavens
above the highest stars,
where he sees everything.
13 Do you think the deep darkness
hides you from God?
14 Do thick clouds cover his eyes,
as he walks around heaven's dome
high above the earth?
15 Give up those ancient ideas
believed by sinners,
16 who were swept away
without warning.
17 They rejected God All-Powerful,
feeling he was helpless,
18 although he had been kind
to their families.
The beliefs of these sinners
are truly disgusting.
19 When God's people see
the godless swept away,
they celebrate, 20 saying,
“Our enemies are gone,
and fire has destroyed
their possessions.”
Surrender to God All-Powerful
21 Surrender to God All-Powerful!
You will find peace
and prosperity.
22 Listen to his teachings
and take them to heart.
23 If you return to God
and turn from sin,
all will go well for you.
24 So get rid of your finest gold,
as though it were sand.
25 Let God All-Powerful
be your silver and gold,
26 and you will find happiness
by worshiping him.
27 God will answer your prayers,
and you will keep the promises
you made to him.
28 He will do whatever you ask,
and life will be bright.
29 When others are disgraced,
God will clear their names
in answer to your prayers.
30 Even those who are guilty
will be forgiven,
because you obey God.
Ndebesano ye butatu
1 Ipapo Elifazi we N'temani kadabila eti,
2 “Apa nthu ungabhatsha Ndzimu ngeni?
Apa naiye unoyi ntjenjedu ungaubhatsha kene?
3 Apa kuna tjinoshathisa Masimbawose ha uli nlulwami,
kene kuna tjinoubuyila ha ululwamisa zila dzidzo kene?
4 Apa ndi ngekwe kutja Ndzimu kuko kunothama kuti ukutjemele,
kwaunodza ukakusumikilisa kene?
5 Atenditi ndi ngekwe bubi gugo bukulu kene?
Akuna bhelelo mu milandu iyo.
6 Ngoti wakalipisa bana ba tate babo basina nlandu,
ukabaambula zwiambalo zwabo bakasala bali mbujo.
7 Wakanyima wakanyala vula kuti ang'we,
ukanyima una zhala zojiwa.
8 Shango ngeye nlume una masimba!
Unokudziwa unogala muili.
9 Wakatatila tjilikadzi kutjena dzakalembedza maboko,
ukapkhwapkhwata siyang'wa maboko.
10 Ndizo ngwenu mapuzhu akakupoteleka,
tjinyolotjo unowigwa ngekutja kukulu.
11 Tjedza tjitjo tjatjiti zwititi autjabona ne bona,
nkubila we vula unokukulila.
12 “Apa Ndzimu autogala pezhugwizhugwi kene?
Bona nyenyedzi kuti dzizhuzhugwi tjini!
13 Ngono iwe ukati, ‘Apa Ndzimu unozibani wali?
Apa ungasumikila uli yeno kwe makole tjini wali?
14 Makole matema akaufukidza kuti ndizo usibone,
unoyenda yenda mu tjilungwane tje zhuzhugwi.’
15 Apa unowobhatilila mu zila dza ntolo,
dzakabe dzitobegwa nge babi kene?
16 Bakadzamugwa tjibaka tjabo tjisathu tjaswika,
thiwa dzabo dzikasengwa nge nkubila.
17 Bakadwa Ndzimu bakati, ‘Idwani patili.
Masimbawose ungatithamani wali?’
18 Nenguba uli iwo wakazhadza ng'umba dzabo nge zwithu zwakanaka,
dumbu, gumbuludzo le babi ngalibe kutjena nami!
19 Balulwami banokubona ngono bakashatha,
basina nlandu banoseka bakadada beti,
20 ‘Nge malebeswa zwita zwedu zwalobesiwa,
ne thundu dzabo dzakasala dzajiwa nge moto.’
21 “Ndizoke uzwigadzanye ne Ndzimu, ube ne mbakiso nawo,
ngekujalo unowozhigwa ne makombolelo.
22 Amutjila tjaunolayiwa kaa, tjinodwa mu nlomo wawo,
ubiganye matama awo mu moyo uwo.
23 Ha ubgwilila kuna Masimbawose, unowokubgwiliza mu tjimo tjitjo
ha udusila kutjena kushaya ndulamo mu nshasha uwo,
24 ha ulashila kutjena golide ku hwuluba,
ne golide ye Ofiri mu mabgwana amu mikuku,
25 ipapo Masimbawose banowobe golide iyo,
ne siliva iyo yakanaka,
26 ipapo unowoshatha muna Masimbawose,
ukalingisana nabo usina shoni.
27 Unowobatembezela bakakuteedza,
ndizo unowoshingikadza kutuna kuko.
28 Muna tjaunozwimisila thama tjowoshingikala,
ne tjedza tjowopenya mu zila dzidzo.
29 Ha bathu bedelusigwa pasi iwe unowoti, ‘Ngabamilidziwe’
unowotjidza banozwiyisa pasi.
30 Unowosunungula na iye usina nlandu,
iye unowosunungugwa nge bubuyanana gwe maboko awo.”