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.
Eyobo Le Taatane Dritairo Lu be
1 Mi maro ndre ŋga cini iyi te.
Merite ago mänite.
2 Ŋgase minibe ono mäni kpate.
Ma ko 'di menyeŋwa yi miri.
3 Oko male atane Lu Mbarapara be ayani;
ago male kalawasa maro tana atane Lu be ayani.
4 Oko ami, nyà voo'be koweoga si;
ami cini orivoya oso 'diede'bai se takaciako 'do ronye.
5 Aba ondro ka'do nyà'dogo titiiti ro, landrena ndi oso ami tavouni'ba yi!
6 Nyeri dia vure maro, ago ta kalawasa maro ro.
Inye'do nyatana ndi taŋgyeako si ävuru Lu ro si ya?
7 Nya koweoga etaya?
Migana kowe ndi ta Lu ro ta ya?
8 Inye'do nya ojo o'dene nda vosi ya?
Nya oye ni ta atane ta Lu rota vure ya ya?
9 Ondro ka'do Lu kondre tase nyabe oyena ono be te, inye'do nda usuna mi ndi ŋgye ya?
Kode nyodona Lu ndi oso abe lidri odo 'do ronye ya?
10 Endaro nda lukuna mi ndi,
mile gica o'dene ndavo ndrwiro owo.
11 Mbara ndaro egbena mi 'da.
Turi'desi ndaro osona turi 'da miya.
12 Ata taoni si miro orivoya takaciako oso torofo ronye;
kaladiṛi miro ka lifu oso ludri ronye.
13 Midri ti, ago mi'ba mata ta maro,
ago mi'ba tase ka oyebe ikyine mädri 'do kikyi.
14 Ma mao'ba rriti ya, ago maoye adri maro ozone.
15 Mije mio'ba cini maro te, Lu kaoye ma ufune.
Caoko ma oye vure maro tana itine ndäri ayani.
16 Anjioko turiako maro opana ma 'da,
tana takozi'ba aza olena ko edrene Lu mile.
17 Ka'do inye nyeri ata maro ono liyaro
ago mi'ba koci bi miro ya.
18 Mede ma te nja vure maro tana ro,
tana mäni ndi Lu usuna ma ko taenji'ba ro.
19 A'di ni iga ma kicune ya?
Tana 'dooko ma'dona te titi ro ago nja odrane.
20 Lu, mile toto tadri ŋga ritu ro ayani märi,
'dooko mänina ko ma da'done ni miri;
21 nye'be ma eza, ago miso turi ko maya.
22 Nyata käti, 'dooko mazana tadrina ndi.
Kode mi'ba mata, ago mizatadri maro.
23 Takozi maro ago taenji se maye be mu'du eŋwanyeya?
Mi'ba mäni takozi ago tase magyebe 'do.
24 Nya mi miro da'dona ni märi etaya?
Nya ma oye gwo oso kyila'baazi miro ronye etaya?
25 Tana e'di nya turi oso maya,
ago nya ma o'ba oso kibi se oli kabe onjana ronye,
ago nya ma onja oso oli kabe turu inyaro onjana ronye niya?
26 Nya ŋgakozi ezi malomvo,
ago ma rriti tase mayebe agoanji ro iŋgyi.
27 Nya nyori embe pa maro ya;
nya aba se cini mabe abana ondrena,
ago nya pavo maro enana.
28 Tana ta'doro, 'ba ma te layine oso ce momo ronye,
ago boŋgo se ludu kombete ronye.