1-2 Everything you say, I have heard before.
I understand it all; I know as much as you do.
I'm not your inferior.
3 But my dispute is with God, not you;
I want to argue my case with him.
4 You cover up your ignorance with lies;
you are like doctors who can't heal anyone.
5 Say nothing, and someone may think you are wise!
6 Listen while I state my case.
7 Why are you lying?
Do you think your lies will benefit God?
8 Are you trying to defend him?
Are you going to argue his case in court?
9 If God looks at you closely, will he find anything good?
Do you think you can fool God the way you fool others?
10 Even though your prejudice is hidden,
he will reprimand you,
11 and his power will fill you with terror.
12 Your proverbs are as useless as ashes;
your arguments are as weak as clay.
13 Be quiet and give me a chance to speak,
and let the results be what they will.
14 I am ready to risk my life.
15 I've lost all hope, so what if God kills me?
I am going to state my case to him.
16 It may even be that my boldness will save me,
since no wicked person would dare to face God.
17 Now listen to my words of explanation.
18 I am ready to state my case,
because I know I am in the right.
19 Are you coming to accuse me, God?
If you do, I am ready to be silent and die.
20 Let me ask for two things; agree to them,
and I will not try to hide from you:
21 stop punishing me, and don't crush me with terror.
22 Speak first, O God, and I will answer.
Or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 What are my sins? What wrongs have I done?
What crimes am I charged with?
24 Why do you avoid me?
Why do you treat me like an enemy?
25 Are you trying to frighten me? I'm nothing but a leaf;
you are attacking a piece of dry straw.
26 You bring bitter charges against me,
even for what I did when I was young.
27 You bind chains on my feet;
you watch every step I take,
and even examine my footprints.
28 As a result, I crumble like rotten wood,
like a moth-eaten coat.
1 “Tareye, oviṋa avihe mbi mbe vi muna;
nu avihe mbi mamu hungire mbe vi zuva
nu mbe vi konḓonona rukuru.
2 Mbi mamu tjiwa ami wina me vi tjiwa.
Ami hi ri kehi yeṋu.
3 Nungwari ozombata zandje
ze ri kuna Omunamasaaehe,
nungwari ka kuna eṋe;
ami me vanga okupatasana
otjiposa tjandje kuna Ndjambi.
4 Eṋe mamu kutjire okuhatjiwa
kweṋu novizeze;
amuhe mu ri otja ozonganga
nḓe ha sora okuverukisa omundu.
5 Amu hungire ko otjiṋa,
tjapo omundu worive ma
tjangovasi oweṋe ozonongo.
6 “Purateneye ku ami,
ngunda ame tye otjiposa tjandje.
7 Ongwaye tji mamu hungire
ovizeze mena ra Ndjambi,
natji mamu hungire otjiwova mena re?
8 Mamu karere ku Ndjambi are?
Mamu kapatasana otjiposa
tje mombanguriro are?
9 Hapo Ndjambi tje mu
konḓonona nawa,
ma munu otjiṋa otjiwa mu eṋe are?
Mamu tjangovasi
mamu wovisa Ndjambi,
otja tji mamu wovisa ovandu are?
10 Nangarire kutja omendjipanguriro weṋu
wokomurungo ruveze ya horekwa,
eye me mu tena,
11 nounene wouvara we mau
eta ondiriro ku eṋe.
12 Omiano vyeṋu ovyo oviṋa
uriri tjimuna omutwe;
omayeuriro weṋu maye
nyanyauka tjimuna omunoko.
13 Mwineye nu ndji peweye
oruveze rwokuhungira,
nu kombanda yandje ngaku ye
omuhingo auhe
otja pu mape vangwa.
14 “Ami mbe rirongerere nangarire
okutwa omuinyo wandje moumba.
15 Ami hi tji nomaundjiro,
pena tjike Ndjambi tji me ndji zepa?
Ami me keriyeura
motjiposa tjandje ku ye.
16 Ihi matji rire ondjamo ku ami,
omurumendu omurunde tjinga
e hi na maa roro okumunika
komurungu wa Ndjambi.
17 Nambano purateneye
komahandjauriro wandje.
18 Ami mbe rirongerere
okuserekarera otjiposa tjandje,
orondu ami me tjiwa
kutja me rire omuhinandjo.
19 “Ndjambi, ove mo ya okundjipa ondjo?
Tji mo tjiti nai,
ami me mwina ne koka.
20 Ndji esa mbi ningire oviṋa vivari;
nove itavera ku vyo,
nu ami hi nokurihoreka kove:
21 Isa okundjivera,
nu o ndji ṱukuṱura nondirisiro yoye.
22 “Hungira rutenga,
Ndjambi, nu ami me ziri.
Poo ndji esa mbi hungire,
nu ove u ndji zire.
23 Hapo ami mba tjita
ozondataiziro zatjike?
Mba tjita ourunde watjike?
Nami mbe ku pirukira pu tjike?
24 “Ongwaye tji mo ndji nyengwa?
Ongwaye tji mo ndji
zara otja omunavita na ove?
25 Mo vanga okundjitirisa are?
Owami otjiṋa uriri,
otjiyao tji hingwa i ombepo;
Ove mo rwisa otjihozu tji tja kukuta.
26 “Ove mo eta omarondororero
omatetarise ku ami,
nangarire ozongatukiro nḓu
mba tjita ngunda ambi ri omutanda.
27 Ove mo pandeke ozombaze zandje,
mo tjevere omikambo
vyandje avihe mbi me yata,
nu wina mo konḓonona ozondambo zandje.
28 Komuhingo mbwi ami otji me
nyanyauka tjimuna orukuṋe ndwa wora,
tjimuna ombanda ndja riwa i omatoto.
