Zophar
1Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2“My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer
because I am greatly disturbed.
3I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,
and my understanding inspires me to reply.
4“Surely you know how it has been from of old,
ever since mankind20:4 Or Adam was placed on the earth,
5that the mirth of the wicked is brief,
the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.
6Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens
and his head touches the clouds,
7he will perish forever, like his own dung;
those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
8Like a dream he flies away, no more to be found,
banished like a vision of the night.
9The eye that saw him will not see him again;
his place will look on him no more.
10His children must make amends to the poor;
his own hands must give back his wealth.
11The youthful vigor that fills his bones
will lie with him in the dust.
12“Though evil is sweet in his mouth
and he hides it under his tongue,
13though he cannot bear to let it go
and lets it linger in his mouth,
14yet his food will turn sour in his stomach;
it will become the venom of serpents within him.
15He will spit out the riches he swallowed;
God will make his stomach vomit them up.
16He will suck the poison of serpents;
the fangs of an adder will kill him.
17He will not enjoy the streams,
the rivers flowing with honey and cream.
18What he toiled for he must give back uneaten;
he will not enjoy the profit from his trading.
19For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute;
he has seized houses he did not build.
20“Surely he will have no respite from his craving;
he cannot save himself by his treasure.
21Nothing is left for him to devour;
his prosperity will not endure.
22In the midst of his plenty, distress will overtake him;
the full force of misery will come upon him.
23When he has filled his belly,
God will vent his burning anger against him
and rain down his blows on him.
24Though he flees from an iron weapon,
a bronze-tipped arrow pierces him.
25He pulls it out of his back,
the gleaming point out of his liver.
Terrors will come over him;
26total darkness lies in wait for his treasures.
A fire unfanned will consume him
and devour what is left in his tent.
27The heavens will expose his guilt;
the earth will rise up against him.
28A flood will carry off his house,
rushing waters20:28 Or The possessions in his house will be carried off, / washed away on the day of God’s wrath.
29Such is the fate God allots the wicked,
the heritage appointed for them by God.”
Mawu a Zofari
1Pamenepo Zofari wa ku Naama anayankha kuti
2“Kuvutika kwa mʼmaganizo kwanga kwandifulumiza kuti ndiyankhe
chifukwa ndasautsidwa kwambiri.
3Ndikumva kudzudzula kondinyoza,
ndipo kumvetsetsa kwanga kwa zinthu kwandifulumiza kuti ndiyankhe.
4“Ndithudi iwe ukudziwa momwe zinthu zakhala zikuchitikira kuyambira kale,
kuchoka nthawi imene munthu analengedwa pa dziko lapansi,
5kuti chisangalalo cha woyipa nʼchosachedwa kutha,
chimwemwe cha wosapembedza Mulungu nʼchakanthawi kochepa.
6Ngakhale atamayenda mapewa ake ali mmwamba
ndipo mutu wake uli nengʼaa,
7iye adzatheratu monga momwe imatayikira ndowe yake yomwe;
iwo amene ankamuona adzati, ‘Kodi uje uja ali kuti?’
8Adzazimirira ngati maloto ndipo sadzapezekanso,
adzachotsedwa ngati masomphenya a usiku.
9Diso limene linamuona silidzamuonanso;
sadzapezekanso pamalo pake.
10Ana ake adzabwezera zonse
zimene iyeyo analanda anthu osauka;
11Mphamvu zaunyamata zimene zili mʼthupi mwake
zidzagona naye limodzi mʼfumbi.
12“Ngakhale zoyipa zili zozuna mʼkamwa mwake
ndipo amazibisa kunsi kwa lilime lake,
13ngakhale salola kuzilavula,
ndipo amazisunga mʼkamwa mwake,
14koma chakudya chake chidzawawasa mʼmimba mwake;
chidzasanduka ngati ndulu ya njoka mʼkati mwa iyeyo.
15Adzachisanza chuma chimene anachimeza;
Mulungu adzachitulutsa mʼmimba mwa munthuyo.
16Iye adzayamwa ndulu ya njoka ndipo
ululu wa mphiri udzamupha.
17Sadzasangalala ndi timitsinje,
mitsinje yoyenda uchi ndi mafuta.
18Ayenera kubweza zimene anazigwirira ntchito osazidya;
sadzasangalala ndi phindu la malonda ake.
19Pakuti iye anapondereza anthu osauka ndipo anawasiya wopanda thandizo;
iyeyo analanda nyumba zimene sanamange.
20“Chifukwa choti umbombo wake sutha,
sadzatha kusunga chilichonse chimene amakondwera nacho.
21Palibe chatsala kuti iye adye;
chuma chake sichidzachedwa kutha.
22Ngakhale ndi munthu wachuma, mavuto adzamugwera;
mavuto aakulu adzamugwera.
23Akadya nʼkukhuta,
Mulungu adzamugwetsera ukali wamoto
ngati mvula yosalekeza.
24Ngakhale athawe mkondo wachitsulo,
muvi wamkuwa wosongoka udzamulasa.
25Muviwo adzawutulutsira ku msana,
songa yake yowala kuchoka mʼmphafa mwake.
Adzagwidwa ndi mantha aakulu;
26mdima wandiweyani ukudikira chuma chake.
Moto wopanda wowukoleza udzamupsereza
ndi kuwononga zonse zotsala mʼnyumba yake.
27Zamumlengalenga zidzawulula kulakwa kwake;
dziko lapansi lidzamuwukira.
28Chigumula cha madzi chidzawononga nyumba yake,
katundu wake adzatengedwa pa tsiku la ukali wa Mulungu.
29Izi ndi zimene Mulungu amasungira anthu oyipa,
mphotho imene Mulungu amayikira iwowo.”
