Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
7 Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
