Zophar's First Speech
So Much Foolish Talk
1 Zophar from Naamah said:
2 So much foolish talk
cannot go unanswered.
3 Your words have silenced others
and made them ashamed;
now it is only right for you
to be put to shame.
4 You claim to be innocent
and argue that your beliefs
are acceptable to God.
5 But I wish God would speak
6 and let you know that wisdom
has many different sides.
You would then discover
that God has punished you
less than you deserve.
7 Can you understand the mysteries
surrounding God All-Powerful?
8 They are higher than the heavens
and deeper than the grave.
So what can you do
when you know so little,
9 and these mysteries outreach
the earth and the ocean?
10 If God puts you in prison
or drags you to court,
what can you do?
11 God has the wisdom to know
when someone is worthless
and sinful,
12 but it's easier to tame
a wild donkey
than to make a fool wise.
Surrender Your Heart to God
13 Surrender your heart to God,
turn to him in prayer,
14 and give up your sins—
even those you do in secret.
15 Then you won't be ashamed;
you will be confident
and fearless.
16 Your troubles will go away
like water beneath a bridge,
17 and your darkest night
will be brighter than noon.
18 You will rest safe and secure,
filled with hope
and emptied of worry.
19 You will sleep without fear
and be greatly respected.
20 But those who are evil
will go blind and lose their way.
Their only escape is death!
1 Opo nee Sofar, Omunaamati, a nyamukula ndele ta ti: 2 “Omapopyaano a kale ngeno itaa nyamukulwa? Ile omulumenhu omupopyaani ta ka pewa tuu ounongo? 3 Omapopyaano oye taa mweneke ngeno ovalumenhu, ove u sheke, kuhe na ou te ku fifa ohoni? 4 Wa tile: ‘Elongo lange ola yela, aame omukoshoki momesho oye.’ 5 Ndelenee woo, ngeenge Kalunga ta popi, ndele te ku makulile omilungu daye 6 ndele te ku hololele oiholekwa younongo, nokutya Ye e neendunge dihapu! Opo to shiiva, nokutya Kalunga okwa hala okudimbwa dimwe domeembedi doye. 7 U shi, ove to dulu okukonakona oule wounongo waKalunga? Ile to dulu okuhanga ouyadi wOmunaenghono adishe? 8 Owo u fike poule weulu; ove to dulu shike? Owo u dule oule woposhi woshovafi; ove to dulu okushiiva shike? 9 Oule wao u dule wedu, noumbwalangadja wao u dule wefuta. 10 Ye ngeenge te uya ta ingaana ndele ta kwata onghwate ndele ta shivi oshiongalele shoihokolola, olyelye te mu kelele? 11 Osheshi ovanaipupulu va shiivika kuye ndele ta mono owii nande ine u konakona? 12 Osho ngaha hano elai tali dulu okupewa ounongo, nokandongwena taka ka dalululwa omunhu. 13 Ove ngeenge to longekida omutima woye nomake oye to a yelula noku mu ilikana, 14 ngeenge meke loye omu nowii, u ekela kokule, ndele ino itavela metwali loye mu kale nande owii, 15 opo to dulu okuyelula oshipala shoye shihe nokavala kohoni, ndele to kala wa pama nokupamenena, ku noku tila sha. 16 Heeno, nena to ka dimbwa omupya woye, noku u diladila wa fomeva a kunguluka po. 17 Okukalamwenyo kwoye taku ka kala ku nouyelele u dule ou wopokati komutenya; ndele nande naku laule, tau kala ngaashi etango longula. 18 Ove u nelineekelo, shaashi u neteelelo. Ove to lengaalenga ndele to ka nangala nombili. 19 Ove oto ka nangala pehe na ou te ku tilifa, ndele vahapu tava ka konga oukaume naave. 20 Ndelenee omesho ovakolokoshi taa ka loloka, onhele yavo yokuhondama ve i kanifa. Eteelelo lavo okufuda mo omufudo waxuuninwa.”
