Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Themanite responded by saying:
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Can man be compared with God, even if he were perfect in knowledge?
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 What advantage is it to God, if you were just? Or what do you provide for him, if your way should be immaculate?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Will he reprove you and take you to judgment for being afraid,
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 and not because of your many evil deeds and your infinite unfairness?
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 For you have taken away the collateral of your brothers without cause, and stripped them naked of their clothing.
Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
7 You have not given water to the weary; you have taken bread away from the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 By the strength of your arm, you took possession of the land, and you retain it by being the strongest.
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and you have crushed the shoulders of orphans.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Because of this, you are surrounded by traps, and unexpected fears will disturb you.
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the onrush of overflowing waters?
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Have you not considered that God is higher than the heavens and is lifted above the height of the stars?
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 And you say: “Well, what does God know?” and, “He judges, as if through a fog,”
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 and, “The clouds are his hiding-place,” and, “He does not examine us closely,” and, “He makes his rounds at the limits of the heavens.”
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Do you not want to tend the path of the ages, which wicked men have spurned?
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 These were taken away before their time, and a flood overthrew their foundation.
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 They said to God, “Withdraw from us,” and they treated the Almighty as if he could do nothing,
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 though he had filled their houses with good things. May their way of thinking be far from me.
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The just will see and will rejoice, and the innocent will mock them.
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 Has not their haughtiness been cut down, and has not fire devoured the remnants of them?
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 So, repose yourself with him and be at peace, and, in this way, you will have the best fruits.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 Accept the law from his mouth, and place his words in your heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 If you will return to the Almighty, you will be rebuilt, and you will put sinfulness far from your tabernacle.
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 He will give you stone in place of dirt, and torrents of gold in place of stone.
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 And the Almighty will be against your enemies, and silver will be gathered together for you.
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 Then will you flock together in delight over the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 You will plead with him, and he will listen to you, and you will pay your vows.
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 You will decide on something, and it will come to you, and the light will shine in your ways.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 For he who had been humbled, will be in glory; and he who will lower his eyes, will be the one saved.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 The innocent will be saved, and he will be saved with purity in his hands.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
