Job 29
1 And Job continued his discourse:
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
4 when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
7 When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
9 The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
10 The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
13 The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
15 I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
18 So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
25 I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
