1Ipapo Jobho akapindura, akati,
1And Job answereth and saith: —
2Zvirokwazvo, imwi muri vanhu vakangwara, Kungwara kuchafa pamwechete nemi.
2Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.
3Asi ini ndine njerewo semi; Handizi muduku kwamuri, Zvirokwazvo, ndianiko asingazivi zvinhu zvakadai?
3I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?
4Ndakafanana nomunhu anosekwa nowaanogara naye, Munhu akadana kuna Mwari, iye akamupindura; Munhu wakarurama, akakwana, ndiye wosekwa.
4A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,` A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.
5Munhu anogara akafara hake anoshora pamifungo yake munhu uri panjodzi. Kushorwa kunogarira vanhu vanotedzemuka norutsoka rwavo.
5A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.
6Matende amakororo anofara hawo, Avo vanotsamwisa Mwari vanogara havo zvakanaka; Ivo vanozadzirwa ruoko rwavo naMwari.
6At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.
7Asi bvunzai henyu zvino mhuka, dzichakudzidzisai Neshiri dzokudenga, dzichakuudzai;
7And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.
8Kana taurai henyu nenyika, ichakudzidzisai; Nehove dzegungwa dzichakuparidzirai.
8Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:
9Ndianiko asingazivi pazvinhu izvi zvose, Kuti ndirwo ruoko rwaJehovha rwakaita izvi zvose?
9`Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?
10Mweya wezvipenyu zvose uri muruoko rwake, Nokufema kwavanhu vose.
10In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.`
11Ko nzeve haiidzi mashoko, Somukamwa unoravira zvokudya here?
11Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?
12Vatana ndivo vakangwara, Vana mazuva mazhinji ndivo vanonzwisisa.
12With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.
13Iye ndiye anokungwara nesimba, Ndiye anamano nokunzwisisa.
13With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.
14Tarirai, iye anokoromora, hazvingavakwizve; Iye anopfigira munhu, haangazozarurirwi.
14Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.
15Tarirai, iye anodzivisa mvura, ndokupwa kwayo; Uye anoitumazve, ndokushandura kwayo nyika.
15Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.
16Iye ane simba nokungwara kukuru; Akanyengerwa nounonyengera ndavake vose.
16With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.
17Unokanganisa mano amanevanje, Vatongi anovaita mapenzi.
17Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.
18Anosunungura simba ramadzimambo, Ndokusunga zviuno zvavo negwarada.
18The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.
19Anotorera vapristi ukuru hwavo, Nokukunda vane simba.
19Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.
20Anotorera vakatenda mashoko avo, Nokubvisira vakuru kunzwisisa
20Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.
21Anodurura kushoora kwake pamusoro pamachinda, Nokusunungura bhanhire ravane simba.
21Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.
22Anofukura zvinhu zvakadzika parima, Anobudisira kuchiedza mumvuri worufu.
22Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.
23Anowanza ndudzi, ndokudziparadza, Anoparadzira ndudzi kose, ndokudzitapa.
23Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.
24Anobvisa kunzwisisa kwavakuru vavanhu venyika, Anovadzungairisa murenje musine nzira.
24Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!
25Vanotsvangadzira murima vasina chiedza, Anovadzengedzekesa somunhu akabatwa.
25They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.