Job 29
1 And Job continued his parable and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 When his lamp shone over my head, [and] by his light I walked through darkness;
taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret counsel of God was over my tent,
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, my young men round about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 When my steps were bathed in milk, and the rock poured out beside me rivers of oil! ...
wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
7 When I went out to the gate by the city, when I prepared my seat on the broadway,
Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose [and] stood up;
vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
9 Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth;
Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me;
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper.
kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
13 The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to 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; my justice was as a mantle and a turban.
Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame;
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I was a father to the needy, and the cause which I knew not I searched out;
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
18 And I said, I shall die in my nest, and multiply my days as the sand;
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew will lie all night on my branch;
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow be renewed in my hand.
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 Unto me they listened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel:
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my words they spoke not again, and my speech dropped upon them;
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 [If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and they troubled not the serenity of my countenance.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
25 I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
