1Zvino Jobho akapfuurazve namashoko ake, akati,
1Job again took up his parable, and said,
2Haiwa, dai ndaiita hangu sapamwedzi yakare, Sapamazuva andairindwa naMwari;
2“Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3Panguva iyo mwenje wake waivhenekera pamusoro wangu, Ndaifamba ndichivhenekerwa parima nechiedza chake;
3when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4Sezvandakanga ndakaita pamazuva okusimba kwangu, Panguva iyo hushamwari hwaMwari huchiri patende rangu;
4as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5Panguva iyo waMasimbaose achiri neni, Navana vangu vachakandipoteredza;
5when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6Panguva iyo pandaitsika paisukwa nomukaka wakafa, Uye dombo raindidururira nzizi dzamafuta!
6when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7Panguva yandaibuda kusuwo reguta, Panguva yandaigadzira chigaro changu padare,
7when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8Majaya akati achindiona aivanda, Navatana vaisimuka vakaramba vamire;
8The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9Machinda ainyarara pakutaura kwawo, Aifumbira miromo yawo;
9The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10manzwi avakuru ainyarara, Ndimi dzavo dzainamatira mumikamwa yavo.
10The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11nekuti nzeve yakati ichindinzwa, ndokundiropafadza; Ziso rakati richindiona, ndokundipupurira zvakanaka.
11For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
12Nekuti ndairwira varombo vaichema, Nenhererawo, nowaishaiwa mubatsiri.
12Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
13Ropafadzo yowotandadza yakawira pamusoro pangu, uye ndakaita moyo wechirikadzi uimbe nomufaro.
13the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14Ini ndaifuka kururama, naiko kwaindifukidza; Kururama kwangu kwaiva senguvo nekorona.
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15Ndaiva meso amapofu, Netsoka dzemhetamakumbo.
15I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16Ndaiva baba vavaishaiwa; Ndainzvera mhaka yowandakanga ndisingazivi.
16I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I didn’t know, I searched out.
17Ndaivhuna meno avasina kururama, Nokubvuta chaakanga auraya mumeno ake.
17I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18Panguva iyo ndakati, Ndichafira mudendere rangu, Ndichawanza mazuva angu aite sejecha,
18Then I said, ‘I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
19Mudzi wangu wakatandavarira kusvikira kumvura, Dova rinovata usiku hwose padavi rangu.
19My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20Kukudzwa kwangu kunoramba kuri kutsva, Uta hwangu hunoramba uchivandudzwa muruoko rwangu.
20My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21Vanhu vainditeerera nokundimirira, Vainyarara kana ndichivaraira.
21“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22Havazaitaurazve kana ini ndareva mashoko angu; Kutaura kwangu kwakadonhera pamusoro pavo.
22After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23Vaindimirira somunhu anomirira mvura; Vaishamisa miromo yavo sevanoshamira mvura yokupedzisira.
23They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24Ndaivasekerera kana vasingatsungi; Havana kudzima chiedza chechiso changu.
24I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
25Ndaivasanangurira nzira yavo, ndikagara sashe wavo, Ndaigara samambo pahondo, Somunhu anonyaradza vanochema.
25I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.