Job 21
1 Job replied,
Kisha Ayubu akajibu na kusema,
2 “Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
“Sikilizeni hotuba yangu kwa makini, hii na iwe faraja yenu.
3 Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
Nimeteswa, lakini pia nitasema; nikisha kusema, endeleeni kudhihaki.
4 Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
Lakini kwangu mimi, malalamikio yangu ni kwa mtu? Kwa nini nisiwe mwenye subira?
5 Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
Nitazameni na mshangae, nanyi wekeni mkono wenu midomoni mwenu.
6 Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
Ninapoyafikiria mateso yangu, ninaumizwa, mwili wangu unaogopa.
7 Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wanazeeka, na kuwa na uwezo katika madaraka?
8 Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
Wazao wao wanathibitishwa mbele zao, na uzao wao unaimarika machoni pao.
9 They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
Nyumba zao ziko salama mbali na hofu; wala fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.
10 Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
Dume lao la ng'ombe linazalisha; halishindwi kufanya hivyo; ng'ombe wao anazaa na hafishi ndama wake akiwa mchanga.
11 They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
Wanawapeleka wadogo wao kama kundi la kondoo, na watoto wao hucheza.
12 They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
Wanaimba kwa tari na vinubi na hufurahi kwa muziki na zomari.
Wanatumia siku zao katika mafanikio, na wanashuka kuzimu kwa utulivu. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
Wanamwambia Mungu, 'Ondoka kwetu kwani hatutaki ufahamu wowote juu ya njia zako.
15 Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
Mwenye enzi ni nani, hata tumwabudu? Tutafaidika na nini tukimwabudu? Tutapata faida gani ikiwa tutamwomba?
16 Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
Tazama, je mafanikio yao hayamo katika mikono yao wenyewe? Sina cha kufanya na ushauri wa waovu.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
Mara ngapi taa za waovu huzimwa, au kwamba majanga huja juu yao? Mara ngapi inatokea kwamba Mungu husambaza huzuni kwao kwa hasira?
18 Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
Ni mara ngapi inatokea kwamba wanakuwa kama mabua mbele ya upepo au kama makapi yanayopeperushwa na dhoruba?
19 Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
Mnasema, 'Mungu huweka hatia ya mtu kwa watoto wake kuilipa.' Na alipe yeye mwenyewe, ili kwamba aweze kujua hatia yake mwenyewe.
20 Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
Acha macho yake yaone uangamivu wake mwenyewe, na acha anywe gadhabu ya Mwenyezi.
21 For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
Kwani anaangaliaje familia yake mbele yake idadi ya miezi yake inapokwisha.
22 Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
Je kuna mtu anaweza kumfundisha Mungu maarifa kwa kuwa yeye huwaukumu hata walio juu?
23 One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
Mtu mmoja ufa katika nguvu zake kamili, akiwa na utulivu kabisa na kwa amani.
24 Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
Mwili wake hauna uhitaji, na kiini cha mifupa yake ina unyevu na afya njema.
25 Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
Mtu mwingine ufa kwa uchungu wa nafsi, bila kujifurahisha kwa jambo lolote jema.
26 Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
Wanazikwa kaburini wote kwa pamoja, funza wanawafunika wote.
27 Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
Tazama, nayajua mawazo yenu, na jinsi mnavyotaka kunikosesha.
28 You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
Kwa kuwa mwasema, 'Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya mwana wa mfalme? Liko wapi kao alipokaa mwovu?'
29 Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
Je hamjawauliza wasafiri? Hamfahamu wanavyoweza kusema,
30 Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
kwamba mwovu anaepushwa na siku ya shida, na kwamba anawekwa mbali na siku ya gadhabu?
31 Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
Ni nani atakaye ituhumu siku ya mwovu mbele yake? Ni nani atakayemwadhibu kwa alichokifanya?
32 When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
Hata hivyo atapelekwa kaburini; watu wataliona kaburi lake.
33 Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
Udongo wa bondeni utakuwa mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, hata kuwe na watu wengi mbele yake.
34 Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
Ni jinsi gani basi mtanifariji bila kufikiri, kwa kuwa majibu yenu hayana lolote ila uongo?”
