Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Jobho akapfuurira mberi nokutaura kwake achiti:
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“Haiwa ndinoshuva sei mwedzi yakapfuura, iwo mazuva andairindirwa naMwari,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
mwenje wake pawaivhenekera pamusoro pangu uye ndaivhenekerwa nechiedza chake ndichifamba murima!
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Haiwa, iwo mazuva andakanga ndichine simba, ushamwari hwaMwari chaihwo huchiropafadza imba yangu,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
Wamasimba Ose paakanga achineni uye vana vangu pavakanga vakandipoteredza,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
painyorovedzwa nzira yangu noruomba, uye dombo richindidururira hova dzamafuta omuorivhi.
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
“Pandakaenda kusuo reguta ndikandogara muchivara,
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
majaya akandiona akatsaukira parutivi uye vatana vakasimuka;
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
vakuru vakaramba kutaura vakafumbira miromo yavo namaoko avo;
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
manzwi avakuru akanyararidzwa, uye ndimi dzavo dzikanamira kumusoro kwemiromo yavo.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Vose vakandinzwa vakataura zvakanaka pamusoro pangu, uye vose vakandiona vakandirumbidza,
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
nokuti ndakanunura varombo vaichemera rubatsiro, uye nherera dzakanga dzisina anobatsira.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Munhu akanga ofa akandiropafadza; ndakaita kuti mwoyo wechirikadzi uimbe.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Ndakafuka kururama sechipfeko changu; kururamisira kwaiva nguo yangu nenguwani yangu.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Ndakanga ndiri meso kumapofu namakumbo kuzvirema.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
Ndakanga ndiri baba kuna vanoshayiwa; ndaimiririra mhaka yomutorwa.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Ndakavhuna meno emunhu akanga akaipa, ndikabvuta chaakanga akaruma.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
“Ndakafunga kuti, ‘Ndichafira mumba mangu, mazuva angu awanda sejecha.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Midzi yangu ichasvika kumvura, uye dova richava pamatavi angu usiku hwose.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Kukudzwa kwangu kucharamba kuri kutsva pandiri, uta hucharamba huri hutsva muruoko rwangu.’
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
“Vanhu vakanditeerera vachitarisira kwazvo, vanyerere vakamirira kurayira kwangu.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Shure kwokutaura kwangu, ivo havana kuzotaurazve; mashoko angu akawira panzeve dzavo zvinyoronyoro.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Vakandimirira kunge vakamirira mvura yomupfunhambuya, uye vakanwa mashoko angu kunge mvura yechirimo.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Pandakanyemwerera kwavari havana kuzvitenda; chiedza chechiso changu chaikosha kwavari.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Ndakavasarudzira nzira ini ndokugara saishe wavo; ndakagara samambo pakati pamauto ake; ndakanga ndakaita somunhu anonyaradza vanochema.
