Job Continues
I Long for the Past
1 Job said:
2 I long for the past,
when God took care of me,
3 and the light from his lamp
showed me the way
through the dark.
4 I was in the prime of life,
God All-Powerful
was my closest friend,
5 and all of my children
were nearby.
6 My herds gave enough milk
to bathe my feet,
and from my olive harvest
flowed rivers of oil.
* 7 When I sat down at the meeting
of the city council,
8 the young leaders stepped aside,
* 9 while the older ones stood
10 and remained silent.
Everyone Was Pleased
11 Everyone was pleased
with what I said and did.
12 When poor people or orphans
cried out for help,
I came to their rescue.
13 And I was highly praised
for my generosity to widows
and others in poverty.
14 Kindness and justice
were my coat and hat;
15 I was helpful to the blind
and to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy,
and I defended them in court,
even if they were strangers.
17 When criminals attacked,
I broke their teeth
and set their victims free.
18 I felt certain that I would live
a long and happy life,
then die in my own bed.
19 In those days I was strong
like a tree with deep roots
and with plenty of water,
20 or like an archer's new bow.
21 Everyone listened in silence
to my welcome advice,
22 and when I finished speaking,
nothing needed to be said.
23 My words were eagerly accepted
like the showers of spring,
24 and the smile on my face
renewed everyone's hopes.
25 My advice was followed
as though I were a king
leading my troops,
or someone comforting
those in sorrow.
Matama a Jobe e bupelo
1 Jobe kadwilila kakale nge ndebeleko iye eti,
2 “Ungati ndingabe ndinga tjandakabe ndili itjo mimwedzi yakapinda,
kunga mu mazhuba iyawaje Ndzimu ugala wakandilisa,
3 pawakabe uthama kuti luvone gwawo gupenye pezhugwi kwe nsholo wangu,
nge tjedza tjawo ndipalame zhalima,
4 se mazhuba andakabe nditjakasima,
kwakabe buzwalani gwangu ne Ndzimu gwakakombolela nzi wangu.
5 Masimbawose bakabe banami,
bana bangu bakandipoteleka.
6 Matshambo angu ndakabe ndiyazhodza lubomba,
mabgwe enditebukila mafuta e mitoba.
7 Ndakabe nditi andiyenda ku nkoba we nzi nkulu,
nditi nditola tjigalo tjangu pa tjibata,
8 bazhuzha bakabe betsheduka abendibona,
sholotjena dzikama nge makumbo,
9 makombgwa akabe emisa kulebeleka,
bebiga maboko pa milomo yabo,
10 mahwi e banokudziwa akabe eti hwu,
ndimi dzabo dzakabe dzinamatilana ne mbgwasha dzabo.
11 “Zebe yakabe endihwa ikandikombolela,
zhisho lakabe lindibona likapa butendeki nge kwangu.
12 Ngoti ndakabhatsha nshayi wakabe ekumbila bhatsho,
ne siyangwa yakabe isina unoibhatsha.
13 Ndakakombolegwa ndi iwoyu wakabe abepejo ngokufa,
athama kuti tjilikadzi ipembele nge kushatha.
14 Ndakafuka ndulamo se tjiambalo tjangu,
kutambunuka kwangu kukanga hazu ne tjiala
ikandiambadza se hazu ne tjiala.
15 Ndakabe mesho ku bhofu,
ndikabe makumbo ku tjilema tje makumbo.
16 Ndakabe tate ku nshayi,
amilila wandisingazibe mu lubazhe.
17 Ndakavuna meno e mbiimbi,
adzamula wakabe awila mu meno awe.
18 Ndakakumbula nditi, ‘Ndowofila mu shaka langu,
ndowowatsha mazhuba angu akanga nsetje.
19 Midzi yangu inowala ikanoti ku vula,
ne thabi dzangu dzowigwa ne khawa.
20 Gudzo langu lidzwa nsi ne nsi mundili,
ne dati langu logala lilidzwa koga mu luboko gwangu.’
21 “Bathu bakabe benditeedza nge kugalabgwe,
bakabe benyalala beti hwu, behwa gumbuludzo langu.
22 Shule kwe ndalebeleka bakabe basingatjalebe tjimwe,
matama angu akabe edothekela mu zebe dzabo zubuyanana.
23 Bakabe bendilindila se bakalinda vula,
beashama se nthu una nyota mu nsi we nyawuko.
24 Ndakabe ndibamwemwetelela apa basina kugalabgwe,
penya kwe tjiso tjangu kwakabe kubasimisa.
25 Ndakashalula zila yabo ngono agala sa she wabo,
ndakagala sa mambo pakati kwe babhayani babe,
sa iye unonyaladza banolila.