Elihu Continues
Be Patient a While Longer
1 Elihu said:
2 Be patient a while longer;
I have something else to say
in God's defense.
3 God always does right—
and this knowledge
comes straight from God.
4 You can rest assured
that what I say is true.
5 Although God is mighty,
he cares about everyone
and makes fair decisions.
6 The wicked are cut down,
and those who are wronged
receive justice.
7 God watches over good people
and places them in positions
of power and honor forever.
8 But when people are prisoners
of suffering and pain,
* 9 God points out their sin
and their pride,
10 then he warns them
to turn back to him.
11 And if they obey,
they will be successful
and happy from then on.
12 But if they foolishly refuse,
they will be rewarded
with a violent death.
Godless People Are Too Angry
13 Godless people are too angry
to ask God for help
when he punishes them.
14 So they die young
in shameful disgrace.
15 Hard times and trouble
are God's way
of getting our attention!
16 And at this very moment,
God deeply desires
to lead you from trouble
and to spread your table
with your favorite food.
17 Now that the judgment
for your sins
has fallen upon you,
18 don't let your anger
and the pain you endured
make you sneer at God.
19 Your reputation and riches
cannot protect you
from distress,
20 nor can you find safety
in the dark world below.
21 Be on guard! Don't turn to evil
as a way of escape.
22 God's power is unlimited.
He needs no teachers
23 to guide or correct him.
Others Have Praised God
24 Others have praised God
for what he has done,
so join with them.
25 From down here on earth,
everyone has looked up and seen
26 how great God is—
God is more than we imagine;
no one can count the years
he has lived.
* 27 God gathers moisture
into the clouds
28 and supplies us with rain.
29 Who can understand
how God scatters the clouds
and speaks from his home
in the thunderstorm?
30 And when God sends lightning,
it can be seen
at the bottom of the sea.
31 By producing such rainstorms,
God rules the world
and provides us with food.
32 Each flash of lightning
is one of his arrows
striking its target,
33 and the thunder tells
of his anger against sin.
1 Elihu kadwilila eti,
2 “Ibe ne moyo nlefu kutukununu koga, ndowokulakidza tjimwe,
nditjina tjimwe tjandingalebelekela Ndzimu.
3 Ndowonotola luzibo gwangu kusipano,
kukulakidza kuti Mbumbi wangu wakalulwama kungapani.
4 Nge malebeswa matama angu aateali manyepkhwa,
iye una luzibo umbeli kuko.
5 “Bona Ndzimu nkulu seni, koga akuna waunolingila pasi,
wakasima, una simba le hwisiso.
6 Autoletjedzela babi bakatjila,
koga banodziyila unobapa fanilo dzabo.
7 Unogala wakabakilila balulwami,
ngono unobatolela pezhugwi sa bomambo,
ukathama kuti bakudziwe tjatjose.
8 Koga ha bathu bakasungwa nge ketani,
bebe bebhakhwa nge misungo ye kudziyila,
9 unobabudza zwabakathama,
kuti batjinya, bakazwibhata kwakabipa.
10 Unobathama kuti bauteedze haubatjemela
ngono ukabadwa kuti bashandukila bubi gwabo.
11 Ha beuteedza beushingila,
banowidza mazhuba abo bakabhudilila
ne makole abo bali mu kushatha.
12 Koga ha basingauteedze,
banowofa nge thumo
ngono befa basina luzibo.
13 “Usina Ndzimu mu moyo unogala akalamwa koga,
aatokumbila bhatsho nenguba un'loba shamu.
14 Banofa bali mu butjetjana gwabo,
bhelelo le matjilo abo lobhatisa shoni.
15 Unosunungula unodziyidzika mu kudziyidzika kukwe,
uzhula zebe dzabo kuti bahwisise nge zogwadza.
16 Nawe unokudana kuti ukuduse mu mang'oni,
kukuyisa kwakazhuka kusina zwinodzibilidza,
ukakupa zose zojiwa zwinozipa.
17 “Koga ngwenu unolobgwa shamu ngekwe bubi,
sumikiliso ne kululwamisiwa zwakakudzinga.
18 Ngono ubone bushongola gusikutjengele ukatuka Ndzimu,
usiletje tjizwimba nlomo tjikulu tjikakupambusa.
19 Apa fumwa iyo ne masimba awo,
zowokubhatsha aukumbila bhatsho kene?
20 Dumbu usiyemule kuti busiku,
panowoti bathu bakalobesiwa mu magalo abo
21 Ibe nge njele, usiwile mu bubi,
gonga igo gwaunoda kupinda kudziyila.
22 Bona, Ndzimu unokudziwa mu simba lawo,
ndiani ungadiya saiwo kene?
23 Ndiani ungadwa Ndzimu kuti uthameni,
kene ungati, ‘Mathama kwakabipa kene?’
24 “Kumbula kukudza mishingo yawo,
bathu yabakakudza beimba
25 Bathu bose bakabona tjawakayita,
bathu banoilingila kule!
26 Bona, Ndzimu nkulu, kwatisingake tikauhwisisa!
Mbalo ye makole awo akuna ungaiziba.
27 Unotola madokhwe e vula,
ukaathama fulele ye vula inona.
28 Unothama kuti vula ine idwa mu makole,
ili njinji inila bathu bose.
29 Apa kuna unoziba kuti makole anoyenda tjini kene?
Apa kuna unoziba kuti tari inodadamula tjini kene?
30 Bona, unopaladza lupenyo gwe vula kuupoteleka,
ukazwimba thiwa dze gungwa.
31 Ngoti ndiko sekwa unosumikilisa bathu,
upa zojiwa zwili zwinjinji.
32 Unozhadza maboko awo nge lupenyo gwe vula,
ngono ukagudwa kuti gulobe pakalingisana.
33 Zhoba yago inoleba nge kwawo,
ne ng'ombe dzoziba ngekwe kuloba kwago.