< Job 31 >
1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?
“Nimefanya agano na macho yangu yasimtazame msichana kwa kumtamani.
2 For what would have been [my] portion of God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
Kwa kuwa fungu la mwanadamu ni gani kutoka kwa Mungu juu, urithi wake kutoka kwa Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Aliye juu?
3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?
Je, si uharibifu kwa watu waovu, maangamizi kwa wale watendao mabaya?
4 Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?
Je, yeye hazioni njia zangu na kuihesabu kila hatua yangu?
5 If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
“Kama nimeishi katika uongo au mguu wangu umekimbilia udanganyifu,
6 (Let me be weighed in an even balance, and God will take knowledge of my blamelessness; )
Mungu na anipime katika mizani za uaminifu, naye atajua kwamba sina hatia:
7 If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;
kama hatua zangu zimepotoka kutoka kwenye njia, kama moyo wangu umeongozwa na macho yangu, au kama mikono yangu imetiwa unajisi,
8 Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.
basi wengine na wale nilichokipanda, nayo yale yote niliyootesha na yangʼolewe.
9 If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,
“Kama moyo wangu umeshawishiwa na mwanamke, au kama nimevizia mlangoni mwa jirani yangu,
10 Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
basi mke wangu na asage nafaka ya mwanaume mwingine, nao wanaume wengine walale naye.
11 For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:
Kwa kuwa hilo lingekuwa aibu, naam, dhambi ya kuhukumiwa.
12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
Ni moto uwakao kwa Uharibifu; ungekuwa umengʼoa mavuno yangu.
13 If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
“Kama ningewanyima haki watumishi wangu wanaume au vijakazi wangu, walipokuwa na manungʼuniko dhidi yangu,
14 What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?
nitafanya nini Mungu atakaponikabili? Nitamjibu nini nitakapoitwa kutoa hesabu?
15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
Je, yeye aliyeniumba tumboni mwa mama yangu, si ndiye aliwaumba? Je, si ni yeye huyo mmoja aliyetuumba sote ndani ya mama zetu?
16 If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
“Ikiwa nimewanyima maskini haja zao, au kuyaacha macho ya wajane yadhoofike,
17 Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,
kama nimekula chakula changu mwenyewe, bila kuwashirikisha yatima;
18 (For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb; )
lakini tangu ujana wangu nimemlea yatima kama ambavyo baba angefanya, nami tangu kuzaliwa kwangu nimewaongoza wajane:
19 If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;
kama nilimwona yeyote akiteseka kwa kukosa nguo, au mtu mhitaji asiye na mavazi
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
ambaye wala moyo wake haukunibariki kwa kumpatia joto kwa mavazi ya manyoya ya kondoo zangu,
21 If I have lifted up my hand against an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
na kama nimeinua mkono wangu dhidi ya yatima, nikijua kuwa nina ushawishi mahakamani,
22 [Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!
basi mkono wangu na unyofoke toka begani mwangu, nao na uvunjike kutoka kiungio chake.
23 For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
Kwa kuwa niliogopa uharibifu kutoka kwa Mungu, nami kwa kuuogopa utukufu wake sikuweza kufanya mambo kama hayo.
24 If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
“Kama nimeweka tumaini langu kwenye dhahabu, au kuiambia dhahabu safi, ‘Wewe ndiwe salama yangu,’
25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
kama nimefurahia wingi wa utajiri wangu, ustawi ambao mikono yangu ilikuwa imepata,
26 If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
kama nimelitazama jua katika kungʼaa kwake au mwezi ukienda kwa fahari yake,
27 And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
hivyo moyo wangu kushawishiwa kwa siri, au kubusu mkono wangu kwa kuviheshimu,
28 This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
basi hiyo pia ingekuwa dhambi ya kuhukumiwa, kwa kuwa ningekuwa si mwaminifu kwa Mungu aishiye juu sana.
29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
“Kama nimeshangilia msiba wa adui yangu, au kutazama kwa furaha taabu iliyomjia,
30 (Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking his life with a curse; )
lakini sikuruhusu kinywa changu kufanya dhambi kwa kuomba laana dhidi ya maisha yake;
31 If the men of my tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? —
kama watu wa nyumbani mwangu kamwe hawakusema, ‘Ni nani ambaye hajashibishwa na nyama ya Ayubu?’
32 The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
Lakini hakuna mgeni aliyelala njiani, kwa maana mlango wangu ulikuwa wazi kwa msafiri;
33 If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
kama nimeifunika dhambi yangu kama wanadamu wengine wafanyavyo, kwa kuficha hatia yangu moyoni mwangu,
34 Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
kwa sababu ya kuogopa umati wa watu, na hivyo kuwa na hofu ya kudharauliwa na jamaa, nikanyamaza kimya nisitoke nje ya mlango:
35 Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
(“Laiti kama angekuwepo mtu wa kunisikia! Tazama sasa ninatia sahihi kwenye utetezi wangu: Mwenyezi na anijibu; mshtaki wangu na aweke mashtaka yake kwenye maandishi.
36 Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
Hakika ningeyavaa begani mwangu, ningeyavaa kama taji.
37 I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
Ningempa hesabu ya kila hatua yangu, ningemwendea kama mwana wa mfalme.)
38 If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
“Kama nchi yangu inalia dhidi yangu, na mifereji yake yote imelowana kwa machozi,
39 If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
kama nimekula mazao yake bila malipo, au kuvunja mioyo ya wapangaji wake,
40 Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
basi miiba na iote badala ya ngano, na magugu badala ya shayiri.” Mwisho wa maneno ya Ayubu.