The Confession of a Sufferer
1 I said, “I will be careful about what I do
and will not let my tongue make me sin;
I will not say anything
while evil people are near.”
2 I kept quiet, not saying a word,
not even about anything good!
But my suffering only grew worse,
3 and I was overcome with anxiety.
The more I thought, the more troubled I became;
I could not keep from asking:
4 “Lord, how long will I live?
When will I die?
Tell me how soon my life will end.”
5 How short you have made my life!
In your sight my lifetime seems nothing.
Indeed every living being is no more than a puff of wind,
6 no more than a shadow.
All we do is for nothing;
we gather wealth, but don't know who will get it.
7 What, then, can I hope for, Lord?
I put my hope in you.
8 Save me from all my sins,
and don't let fools make fun of me.
9 I will keep quiet, I will not say a word,
for you are the one who made me suffer like this.
10 Don't punish me any more!
I am about to die from your blows.
11 You punish our sins by your rebukes,
and like a moth you destroy what we love.
Indeed we are no more than a puff of wind!
12 Hear my prayer, Lord,
and listen to my cry;
come to my aid when I weep.
Like all my ancestors
I am only your guest for a little while.
13 Leave me alone so that I may have some happiness
before I go away and am no more.
Takozi Eṛo Mano se Kabe Ugu Rueza ro
1 Matate makye: “Ma'dona taoti be tase mabe oyena ta
ukyi mata takozi 'da ladra maro si;
ago matana ta aza ko
tana lidri kozi orivoya loto malomvo.”
2 Madrite titiro, ago mata kote,
ca ta ŋga kado ro atane!
Oko rueza maro ugu a'dote koziro ndra,
3 ago ma'dote milo'be be.
Ondro marite tana usune, ma'dote milo'be be ndra;
ndi matate makye:
4 “OPI, mi'ba ma ori ädu maro unine,
ago madrana ituya?
Nyiti ta märi ori maro äduna itu ya?”
5 Mi'ba ori maro te juṛuŋwa!
ago ori maro landre ṛo ta awi ro mimile.
Endaro lidri cini lidriidriro orivoya toto lawa yi.
6 Lidri ka aba oso lindri ronye!
Ŋgase cini nda kabe oyena orivoya ta awi yi;
nda ka ŋgadriamba odro, oko nda ni ko a'dona a'di ri.
7 Ka'do inye, OPI ma'bana mi te a'di dri ya?
Ma'bana mi maro midri ayani.
8 Mipa ma ni takozii cini maro risi,
ago mi'ba amamai kuguyi ma ko.
9 Ma'dona 'da titiro, märi ta atane i'do,
tana mi ni orivoya se 'ba ma te ruezane oso nonye owo.
10 Nyeza ma ko te!
ma oye odrane ni la'bi miro risi.
11 Nya lidri luku ago eza takozi ànyaro ta,
ago nyepere ŋgase nda kabe luna te oso ludu ronye.
Endaro lidri orivoya toto lawa yi!
12 Nyeri mätu maro, Äye OPI,
ago nyeri liyi maro;
nyitisi bi koni liyi maro risi.
Tana ma toto ŋgwazi miro tuna toto fere,
oso zutui maro ronye.
13 Nye'be ma iṛe tana ma'do robe riyä be
teinye oyiako märi di ago ma'do robe i'do tona.