Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the 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 to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
