Job 29
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
