1Ipapo Jobho akapindura,, akati,
1And Job answereth and saith: —
2Inzwai zvakanaka kutaura kwangu; Munyaradzwe nazvo.
2Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.
3Ndiregei, nditaurewo; Kana ndapedza kutaura, mungandiseka henyu.
3Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking — ye may deride.
4Kana ndirini, ndinochema kuvanhu here? Ndingaregereiko kupera moyo?
4I — to man [is] my complaint? and if [so], wherefore May not my temper become short?
5Nditarirei, mushamiswe, Muise ruoko rwenyu pamuromo.
5Turn unto me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
6Kunyange ndozvirangarira ndinotambudzika, Kutya kukuru kunobata nyama yangu.
6Yea, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh hath taken fright.
7Vakaipa vanoraramireiko, Vachikwegura nokuwedzerwa simba here?
7Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.
8Vana vavo vanosimbiswa pamwechete navo pamberi pavo, Navazukuru vavo vachizviona nameso avo.
8Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9Dzimba dzavo dzinorugare, hadzityiswi, Uye shamhu yaMwari haigari ichivarova.
9Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God upon them.
10Hando yavo inoberekesa, isingakoni, Mhou yavo inobereka, isingasvodzi.
10His bullock hath eaten corn, and doth not loath. His cow bringeth forth safely, And doth not miscarry.
11Vanobudisa pwere dzavo seboka ramakwai; Vana vavo vanotamba.
11They send forth as a flock their sucklings, And their children skip,
12Vanoimba vachiridzirwa ngoma nembira, Vanofara vachiridzirwa nyere.
12They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of an organ.
13Vanopedza mazuva avo vachifara, Vanoburukira kuSheori kamwe-kamwe.
13They wear out in good their days, And in a moment [to] Sheol go down.
14Kunyange zvakadaro vanoti kuna Mwari, Ibvai kwatiri; nekuti hatidi kuziva nzira dzenyu.
14And they say to God, `Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Thy ways We have not desired.
15Iye waMasimbaose ndianiko, kuti timushumire? Tichabatsirwa neiko kana tikakumbirisa kwaari?
15What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?`
16Tarirai, kufara kwavo hakuzi mumaoko avo; Mano avakaipa ari kure neni.
16Lo, not in their hand [is] their good, (The counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
17Ko mwenje wavakaipa unodzimwa kangani? Njodzi yavo inovavinga kanganiko? Mwari anovapavhurira kutambudzika pakutsamwa kwake kanganiko?
17How oft is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And come on them doth their calamity? Pangs He apportioneth in His anger.
18Vanotongofanana namakoto anopepereswa nemhepo here? Nehundi inotorwa nedutu remhepo?
18They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,
19imwi munoti, Mwari anochengetera vana vake zvakaipa. Ngaamutsive iye amene, azvizive.
19God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him — and he knoweth.
20Meso ake amene ngaaone kuparadzwa kwake, Iye ngaamwe kutsamwa kowaMasimbaose.
20His own eyes see his destruction, And of the wrath of the Mighty he drinketh.
21Nekuti achava nehanya yeiko neimba yake kana aenda, Kana kuwanda kwemwedzi yake kwatapudzwa.
21For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
22Ndianiko angadzidzisa Mwari kuziva, Zvaari iye anotonga vari kumusoro?
22To God doth [one] teach knowledge, And He the high doth judge?
23Mumwe anofa achine simba rake rose, Akafara chose anorugare.
23This [one] dieth in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
24Mazamu ake azere nomukaka, mwongo wamafupa ake wakanyorova.
24His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.
25Mumwe anofa ane shungu dzomoyo, asina kutongoravira zvakanaka.
25And this [one] dieth with a bitter soul, And have not eaten with gladness.
26Vanovata pasi pamwechete paguruva, Honye dzinovafukidza vose.
26Together — on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.
27Tarirai ndinoziva kufunga kwenyu, Namano akaipa amunondifungira.
27Lo, I have known your thoughts, And the devices against me ye do wrongfully.
28Nekuti munoti, Imba yomuchinda iripiko? Tende raigarwa nowakaipa riripiko?
28For ye say, `Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent — The tabernacles of the wicked?`
29Hamuna kubvunza here vanofamba nenzira? Hamuzivi zviratidzo zvavo here?
29Have ye not asked those passing by the way? And their signs do ye not know?
30Kuti munhu wakaipa anoregerwa pazuva renjodzi, pazuva rokutsamwa kukuru vanobviswa.
30That to a day of calamity is the wicked spared. To a day of wrath they are brought.
31Ndianiko angamuzivisa mufambiro wake pachena? Ndiani achamutsiva zvaakaita here?
31Who doth declare to his face his way? And [for] that which he hath done, Who doth give recompence to him?
32Zvino anotakurirwa kuhwiro, kurindwe churu chake.
32And he — to the graves he is brought. And over the heap a watch is kept.
33Mavhinga omupata achamunakira, Vanhu vose vachamutevera, Sezvaakatungamirirwa navasingaverengwi.
33Sweet to him have been the clods of the valley, And after him every man he draweth, And before him there is no numbering.
34Zvino munondinyaradza sei nezvisina maturo, Zvamasarirwa nenhema dzoga pakupindura kwenyu?
34And how do ye comfort me [with] vanity, And in your answers hath been left trespass?