1 “Ngayi? Mesho angu akabona kose ikoku
ne zebe dzangu dzakahwa dzikakuhwisisa.
2 Tjamunoziba ndotjizibabo,
anditendili ntukununu mu muli.
3 Koga ndowolebeleka ndakazwilingisanya na Masimbawose,
Ndoshaka kunyanyayidzana ne Ndzimu mu ndebo yangu.
4 Ngono imwi mondidzinganyidza nge manyepkhwa,
mu ng'anga dzisidza tjimwe mose!
5 Koga ha mabe munganyalala,
ndiko kungabe butjenjedu gwenyu!
6 “Tjiteedzani ndebo yangu ndomukumbila,
tjibhulutanani tjinodwa mu nlomo wangu.
7 Apa mowolebelekela Ndzimu zwisi izo?
Apa mungaulebelekela nge matama e butjebeli kene?
8 Apa munga umilila kene?
Apa mungalebeleka ndebo ye Ndzimu muulebelekela kene?
9 Apa kunga mululwamila wali ha unga mushakisisa kene?
Kene munga utjebela se munotjebela nthu wali?
10 Nge malebeswa ungamutjemela,
ha muumilila nge kusakatambunuka.
11 Apa bukulu gwawo agutomutjisa kene?
Apa kutjisa kwawo akutomuwila kene?
12 Ndebeleko dzenyu makungulupeswa e hwuluba koga,
mbakililo dzenyu adzina mongo.
13 “Nyalalani, nditongolebeleka,
andina hanya ne tjinga ndishingikalila.
14 Ndozwilonga mu mbatsha,
alonga butjilo gwangu mu maboko angu.
15 Bonani, nenguba ungandibulaya, anditjina kugalabgwe,
koga ndowozwilebelekela mbeli kwawo.
16 Ikoku kowobe ilo jidzo langu,
ngoti akuna nthu we mbipo ungazha mbeli kukwe.
17 Bhulutanani matama angu,
tjandinoleba ngatjingine mu zebe dzenyu.
18 Bonani, ndalulwamisa ndebo yangu,
ndoziba kuti anditowobong'wa nlandu.
19 Apa ndiani unga nyanyaidzana nami kene?
Ngoti aaliyapo ndowonyalala ngono ndikafa.
20 “Mundithamile zwithu zwibili koga,
Ndizo anditowomubgwatila.
21 Dusilani kutjena nami luboko gwenyu,
kutjisa kwenyu kusindipaluse moyo.
22 Ndizo danani ndowodabila,
kene mundiletje ndilebeleke imwi mudabile.
23 Ndakathama milandu mingana ne zwibi zwingana?
Mundizibise jinyo langu ne tjibi tjangu.
24 “Ini mundisumbikila buso gwenyu?
Ini munditola se tjita tjenyu kene?
25 Apa monditjisilani ndili zhani linotogwa nge phepo kene?
Apa mungashwa makatatana ne bunye gwakawoma kene?
26 Mokwala zwithu zwakabipa nge kwangu,
mothama kuti ndimililane ne jinyo le butjetjana gwangu!
27 Makasungilila makumbo angu mu mapangwana,
mogala makalingilila zila dzandinotola,
mukalonga lutjwayo mu zwitshitshino zwe matshambo angu.
28 Ndoshashamuka se tjimwe tjakabola
se gandana lakajiwa ne ntjenje.
1-2 Everything you say, I have heard before.
I understand it all; I know as much as you do.
I'm not your inferior.
3 But my dispute is with God, not you;
I want to argue my case with him.
4 You cover up your ignorance with lies;
you are like doctors who can't heal anyone.
5 Say nothing, and someone may think you are wise!
6 Listen while I state my case.
7 Why are you lying?
Do you think your lies will benefit God?
8 Are you trying to defend him?
Are you going to argue his case in court?
9 If God looks at you closely, will he find anything good?
Do you think you can fool God the way you fool others?
10 Even though your prejudice is hidden,
he will reprimand you,
11 and his power will fill you with terror.
12 Your proverbs are as useless as ashes;
your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 Be quiet and give me a chance to speak,
and let the results be what they will.
14 I am ready to risk my life.
15 I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me?
I am going to state my case to him.
16 It may even be that my boldness will save me,
since no wicked person would dare to face God.
17 Now listen to my words of explanation.
18 I am ready to state my case,
because I know I am in the right.
19 Are you coming to accuse me, God?
If you do, I am ready to be silent and die.
20 Let me ask for two things; agree to them,
and I will not try to hide from you:
21 stop punishing me, and don't crush me with terror.
22 Speak first, O God, and I will answer.
Or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 What are my sins? What wrongs have I done?
What crimes am I charged with?
24 Why do you avoid me?
Why do you treat me like an enemy?
25 Are you trying to frighten me? I'm nothing but a leaf;
you are attacking a piece of dry straw.
26 You bring bitter charges against me,
even for what I did when I was young.
27 You bind chains on my feet;
you watch every step I take,
and even examine my footprints.
28 As a result, I crumble like rotten wood,
like a moth-eaten coat.