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
1-2 Are you finally through with your windy speech?
3 God never twists justice;
he never fails to do what is right.
4 Your children must have sinned against God,
and so he punished them as they deserved.
5 But turn now and plead with Almighty God;
6 if you are so honest and pure,
then God will come and help you
and restore your household as your reward.
7 All the wealth you lost will be nothing
compared with what God will give you then.
8 Look for a moment at ancient wisdom;
consider the truths our ancestors learned.
9 Our life is short, we know nothing at all;
we pass like shadows across the earth.
10 But let the ancient wise people teach you;
listen to what they had to say:
11 “Reeds can't grow where there is no water;
they are never found outside a swamp.
12 If the water dries up, they are the first to wither,
while still too small to be cut and used.
13 Godless people are like those reeds;
their hope is gone, once God is forgotten.
14 They trust a thread—a spider's web.
15 If they lean on a web, will it hold them up?
If they grab for a thread, will it help them stand?”
16 Evil people sprout like weeds in the sun,
like weeds that spread all through the garden.
17 Their roots wrap around the stones
and hold fast to every rock.
18 But then pull them up—
no one will ever know they were there.
19 Yes, that's all the joy evil people have;
others now come and take their places.
20 But God will never abandon the faithful
or ever give help to evil people.
21 He will let you laugh and shout again,
22 but he will bring disgrace on those who hate you,
and the homes of the wicked will vanish.