1 Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. 2 Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. 4 The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5 If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 6 Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. 7 Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.
8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying , 9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. 10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, 11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. 13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.
14 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: 20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat. 21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. 22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers. 23 If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: 24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. 25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: 26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. 27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living. 31 Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. 32 If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. 33 If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.
1 “Koga ngwenu Jobe ihwa ndebeleko yangu,
uhwilile matama angu wose.
2 Bona, ndozhula nlomo wangu
ndakazwilulwamisila leba tjipa moyo wangu.
3 Matama angu anodwa mu moyo wangu wakatambunuka,
nlomo wangu unowoleba itjo tjandinoziba koga.
4 Meya ye Ndzimu yakandibumba
mafemo a Masimbawose anondipa butjilo.
5 Undishandule, hautubula,
lulwamisa ndebeleko iyo, tilingisane.
6 Bona, mbeli kwe Ndzimu ndofanana koga nawe,
namibo ndakabumbiwa nge vu koga sa we.
7 Bona, akuna kutjiwa kwangu kwakafanila kukulobese hana,
kubeyapo kwangu kokukulila.
8 “Koga walebeleka ndakateedza nge dzangu zebe,
ndakuhwa ulebeleka matama anoti,
9 ‘Ndimbuyanana, andina nlandu wandathama,
ndakatjenapala, akuna jinyo mu ndili.
10 Bona, Ndzimu unobona itoyi mundili,
ukandibona ndili tjita tjawo.
11 Unosungila makumbo mu bhangwana,
kayela njele zila dzangu dzose.’
12 “Ngono, ima ndikudabile, autolebesa,
Ndzimu nkulu kupinda nthu.
13 Ini ukakabadzana nawo,
uti, ‘Autodabila kene?’
14 Ndzimu unolebeleka nge zila imwe,
ukalebeleka kakale nge ipoga,
nenguba bathu basina njele nako.
15 Unolebeleka nge mawoloto ne nge mbono busiku,
ha bathu bakaizela, bakaizela mu malawo abo,
16 ipapo unozhula zebe dze bathu,
ngono ukabatjenjedza ngekubatjisa,
17 kuti ndizo bafupatile kutjinya kwabo
ne kubadziba mukuzwikudza kwabo.
18 Autobaletjedza bakawila mu gomba,
unotjengeta bupenyu gwabo mu kulobesiwa nge thumo.
19 “Nthu unosolobgwa shamu kabe mu thobo dzinopisa
kabe mu zogwadza zwe mafupa anopanda kusingapele,
20 meya dzidze dzikati zwi ha dzibona zojiwa,
ne zojiwa zwinozipa kawana zwimbipila.
21 Nyama dzidze dzikashashamuka,
mafupa awe akasala ali patjena.
22 Bupenyu gugwe kwasendela gomba,
ne butjilo gugwe kuna ibabo banozhisa lufu.
23 Ha kuna ntumwa we Ndzimu ungama naye,
ali n'gadzanyi muna bali tjiwulu (1 000),
kowokumbuludza nthu kuti tjakanlulwamila nditjipi,
24 unangoni kunnli ngoni unoti,
‘Undzutunule mukungina mu gomba,
ndawana tjinga ndzutunula,
25 mbili uwe unowobgwilila ku tjimo tje butjetjana,’
unobgwilila ku mazhuba e simba le butjetjana gugwe,
26 aetembezela Ndzimu ukan'amutjila,
unozha mbeli kwawo nge kushatha,
unom'bgwilizila mu tjimo tjekutanga,
27 Ngono unozwilebulula mbeli kwe bathu eti,
‘Ndakatjinya apambusa tjakabe tjakalulwama,
koga andizolobgwa shamu yakandifanila.
28 Wakadzutunula bupenyu mukungina mu gomba,
ngono butjilo gwangu gowobona tjedza.’
29 “Bona Ndzimu unothama zwithu izwezwi,
unozwithama kabili ne katatu uthamila nthu,
30 kubuza bupenyu gugwe kudwa mu gomba,
kuti ndizo abone tjedza tje butjilo.
31 Undibhulutane kaa Jobe, nditeedze,
nyalala ngono ndowolebeleka,
32 ha una tjimwe tjaunoshaka leba, utjilebe,
lebeleka, ndoyemula kutendeka kuti wakatambunuka.
33 Ha usina tjaungaleba, unditeedze,
nyalala, ndowokudiya butjenjedu.”