Job 29
1 And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk in darkness;
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 As I was in the days of my abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
