1Then Job answered and said, 2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?9.2 with God: or, before God? 3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. 4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? 5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. 6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. 7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. 8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.9.8 waves: Heb. heights 9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.9.9 Arcturus…: Heb. Ash, Cesil, and Cimah 10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. 11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. 12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?9.12 hinder…: Heb. turn him away? 13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.9.13 proud…: Heb. helpers of pride, or, strength
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? 15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. 16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. 17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. 19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? 20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. 26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.9.26 swift…: or, ships of Ebeh: Heb. ships of desire 27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: 28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. 29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? 30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; 31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.9.31 abhor…: or, make me to be abhorred 32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. 33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.9.33 any…: Heb. one that should argue9.33 daysman: or, umpire 34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: 35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.9.35 it is…: Heb. I am not so with myself
Mawu a Yobu
1Ndipo Yobu anayankha kuti,
2“Zoonadi, ndikudziwa kuti zimenezi ndi zoona.
Koma munthu angathe bwanji kukhala wolungama pamaso pa Mulungu?
3Ngakhale wina atafuna kutsutsana naye,
Iye sangamuyankhe munthuyo ngakhale mawu amodzi omwe.
4Mulungu ndi wa nzeru zambiri ndipo mphamvu zake ndi zochuluka.
Ndani analimbana naye popanda kupwetekeka?
5Iye amasuntha mapiri, mapiriwo osadziwa,
ndipo amawagubuduza ali wokwiya.
6Iye amagwedeza dziko lapansi kulisuntha pamalo pake
ndipo amanjenjemeretsa mizati yake.
7Iye amayankhula ndi dzuwa ndipo siliwala;
Iyeyo amaphimba kuwala kwa nyenyezi.
8Ndi Mulungu yekha amene anayala mayiko akumwamba
ndipo amayenda pa mafunde a pa nyanja.
9Iye ndiye mlengi wa nyenyezi zamlalangʼamba ndi akamwiniatsatana,
nsangwe ndi kumpotosimpita.
10Iye amachita zozizwitsa zimene sizimvetsetseka,
zodabwitsa zimene sizingawerengeke.
11Akapita pafupi ndi ine sindingathe kumuona;
akadutsa, sindingathe kumuzindikira.
12Ngati Iye alanda zinthu, ndani angathe kumuletsa?
Ndani anganene kwa Iye kuti, ‘Mukuchita chiyani?’
13Mulungu sabweza mkwiyo wake;
ngakhale gulu lankhondo la Rahabe linawerama pa mapazi ake.
14“Nanga ine ndingathe kukangana naye bwanji?
Ndingawapeze kuti mawu oti nʼkutsutsana naye?
15Ngakhale nditakhala wosalakwa, sindingamuyankhe;
ndikanangopempha chifundo kwa woweruza wanga.
16Ngakhale ndikanamuyitana ndipo Iye ndi kuvomera,
sindikhulupirira kuti akanamva mawu angawo.
17Iye akanandikantha ndi mphepo yamkuntho,
ndipo akanandipweteka popanda chifukwa.
18Mulungu sakanandilola kuti ndipumenso
koma akanandichulukitsira zowawa.
19Tikanena za mphamvu, Iye ndi wamphamvudi!
Ndipo tikanena za chiweruzo cholungama, ndani angamuzenge mlandu?
20Ngakhale ndikanakhala wosalakwa, zoyankhula zanga zikananditsutsa;
ndikanakhala wopanda cholakwa, pakamwa panga pakanandipeza wolakwa.
21“Ngakhale ine ndili wosalakwa,
sindidziyenereza ndekha;
moyo wanga ndimawupeputsa.
22Zonse nʼzofanana; nʼchifukwa chake ndikuti,
‘Iye amawononga anthu osalakwa ndi anthu oyipa omwe.’
23Pamene mkwapulo ubweretsa imfa yadzidzidzi,
Iye amaseka tsoka la munthu wosalakwayo.
24Pamene dziko lagwa mʼmanja mwa anthu oyipa
Iye amawatseka maso anthu oweruza dzikolo.
Ngati si Iyeyo, nanga ndani?
25“Masiku anga ndi othamanga kwambiri kupambana munthu waliwiro;
masikuwo amapita ine osaonapo zabwino.
26Amayenda ngati mabwato a njedza pa nyanja,
ngati mphungu zothamangira nyama zoti zidye.
27Nʼtanena kuti, ‘Ndidzayiwala madandawulo anga,
ndidzasintha nkhope yanga ndipo ndidzasekerera,’
28ndikuopabe mavuto anga onse,
popeza ndikudziwa kuti simudzavomereza kuti ndine wosalakwa.
29Popeza ndapezeka kale wolakwa
ndivutikirenji popanda phindu?
30Ngakhale nditasamba mʼmadzi oyera kwambiri
ndi kusamba mʼmanja mwanga ndi sopo,
31mutha kundiponyabe pa dzala,
kotero kuti ngakhale zovala zanga zomwe zidzandinyansa.
32“Mulungu si munthu ngati ine kuti ndithe kumuyankha,
sindingathe kutsutsana naye mʼbwalo la milandu.
33Pakanapezeka munthu wina kuti akhale mʼkhalapakati wathu,
kuti atibweretse ife tonse pamodzi,
34munthu wina woti achotse ndodo ya Mulungu pa ine
kuti kuopsa kwake kusandichititsenso mantha!
35Pamenepo ine ndikanatha kuyankhula mosamuopa Mulunguyo,
koma monga zililimu, sindingathe.
