1 Bhilidadi we N'shuhi kashandula eti,
2 “Apa kowodza kukabe lini wakabhata uleba zwithu izwezwi kene?
Matama e nlomo uwo i phepo isishoma!
3 Apa Ndzimu unotongo peyamisa ndulamo kene?
Apa Masimbawose unotongo peyamisa tjakatambunuka kene?
4 Ha bana babo bauthamila tjibi,
wakabaloba shamu yakalingisana tjibi tjabo.
5 Koga iwe ha ushaka Ndzimu,
ukumbila iye Masimbawose,
6 ha uli mbuyanana kakale wakatambunuka,
nge malebeswa unowomilika kakumilila,
ngono kakubgwilizila zwakakulingisana.
7 Nenguba kutangisa kuko kwakabe kuli kutukununu,
misi imbeli kowobe kukulu.
8 “Bhuzwa ba ntolo ndokukumbila,
ngono ubone kuti bobatategulu babo bakazwidiyani,
9 ngoti iswi takazwagwa madekwe akuna tjatinoziba,
ne mazhuba edu mu shango mitutshi koga.
10 Apa abangakudiye bakakubudza tjimwe wali?
Apa abangalebe matama anodwa mu hwisiso yabo kene?
11 “Apa litokwe gungamela pasina dope kene?
Apa lushanga gungapasula pasina vula kene?
12 Zoti zwitjakula zwisathu zwikatemiwa,
zwikabuna tjinyolotjo kupinda mimwe miti.
13 Kwakajalo ndiyo zila ya bose banokangang'wa Ndzimu,
kugalabgwe kukwe kon'pelela iye usina Ndzimu.
14 Kugalabgwe kukwe konga jegwa linofa
kugalabgwe kukwe konga ludandi gwe tjibubi.
15 Unonaila ng'umba iye, koga aitoma,
unozwibhatilila nayo ngono aitosima.
16 Unonga nti unodilidzigwa nenguba kuli zhuba
midzi yawo yakawala mu nnda.
17 Midzi iye inozwipomba mu mabgwe,
unoshaka bugalo mu mabgwe.
18 Koga ha angasimugwa pa magalo awe,
magalo anozwin'landula eti, ‘Andithu akubona.’
19 Nge lebeswa ndiko kushatha kwe zila iye,
koga mu mavu mimwe miti inowomela.
20 “Nge malebeswa Ndzimu autolamba nthu usina nlandu,
kene kubhatsha banothama mbipo.
21 Koga unowozhadza nlomo uwo nge tjiseko,
milomo iyo inozhala nsindo we mpululu!
22 Koga ibabo banokubenga banowobhakhwa nge shoni,
ne mishasha ye babi aitjowobepo.”
Bildad's First Speech
How Long Will You Talk?
1 Bildad from Shuah said:
2 How long will you talk
and keep saying nothing?
3 Does God All-Powerful
stand in the way of justice?
4 He made your children pay
for their sins.
5 So why don't you turn to him
6 and start living right?
Then he will decide
to rescue and restore you
to your place of honor.
7 Your future will be brighter
by far than your past.
Our Ancestors Were Wise
8 Our ancestors were wise,
so learn from them.
9 Our own time has been short,
like a fading shadow,
and we know very little.
10 But they will instruct you
with great understanding.
11 Papyrus reeds grow healthy
only in a swamp,
12 and if the water dries up,
they die sooner than grass.
13 Such is the hopeless future
of all who turn from God
14 and trust in something as frail
as a spider's web—
15 they take hold and fall
because it's so flimsy.
16 Sinful people are like plants
with spreading roots and plenty
of sun and water.
17 They wrap their roots tightly
around rocks.
18 But once they are pulled up,
they have no more place;
19 their life slips away,
and other plants grow there.
20 We know God doesn't reject
an innocent person
or help a sinner.
21 And so, he will make you happy
and give you something
to smile about.
22 But your evil enemies
will be put to shame
and disappear forever.