< Job 21 >
1 And Job answers and says:
Kisha Ayubu akajibu na kusema,
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
“Sikilizeni hotuba yangu kwa makini, hii na iwe faraja yenu.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Nimeteswa, lakini pia nitasema; nikisha kusema, endeleeni kudhihaki.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
Lakini kwangu mimi, malalamikio yangu ni kwa mtu? Kwa nini nisiwe mwenye subira?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Nitazameni na mshangae, nanyi wekeni mkono wenu midomoni mwenu.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Ninapoyafikiria mateso yangu, ninaumizwa, mwili wangu unaogopa.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wanazeeka, na kuwa na uwezo katika madaraka?
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Wazao wao wanathibitishwa mbele zao, na uzao wao unaimarika machoni pao.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
Nyumba zao ziko salama mbali na hofu; wala fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Dume lao la ng'ombe linazalisha; halishindwi kufanya hivyo; ng'ombe wao anazaa na hafishi ndama wake akiwa mchanga.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
Wanawapeleka wadogo wao kama kundi la kondoo, na watoto wao hucheza.
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
Wanaimba kwa tari na vinubi na hufurahi kwa muziki na zomari.
13 They wear out their days in good, And in a moment go down [to] Sheol. (Sheol )
Wanatumia siku zao katika mafanikio, na wanashuka kuzimu kwa utulivu. (Sheol )
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Wanamwambia Mungu, 'Ondoka kwetu kwani hatutaki ufahamu wowote juu ya njia zako.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
Mwenye enzi ni nani, hata tumwabudu? Tutafaidika na nini tukimwabudu? Tutapata faida gani ikiwa tutamwomba?
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
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 extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs 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 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
Ni mara ngapi inatokea kwamba wanakuwa kama mabua mbele ya upepo au kama makapi yanayopeperushwa na dhoruba?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
Mnasema, 'Mungu huweka hatia ya mtu kwa watoto wake kuilipa.' Na alipe yeye mwenyewe, ili kwamba aweze kujua hatia yake mwenyewe.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
Acha macho yake yaone uangamivu wake mwenyewe, na acha anywe gadhabu ya Mwenyezi.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
Kwani anaangaliaje familia yake mbele yake idadi ya miezi yake inapokwisha.
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
Je kuna mtu anaweza kumfundisha Mungu maarifa kwa kuwa yeye huwaukumu hata walio juu?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
Mtu mmoja ufa katika nguvu zake kamili, akiwa na utulivu kabisa na kwa amani.
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
Mwili wake hauna uhitaji, na kiini cha mifupa yake ina unyevu na afya njema.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
Mtu mwingine ufa kwa uchungu wa nafsi, bila kujifurahisha kwa jambo lolote jema.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Wanazikwa kaburini wote kwa pamoja, funza wanawafunika wote.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
Tazama, nayajua mawazo yenu, na jinsi mnavyotaka kunikosesha.
28 For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
Kwa kuwa mwasema, 'Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya mwana wa mfalme? Liko wapi kao alipokaa mwovu?'
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Je hamjawauliza wasafiri? Hamfahamu wanavyoweza kusema,
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
kwamba mwovu anaepushwa na siku ya shida, na kwamba anawekwa mbali na siku ya gadhabu?
31 Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
Ni nani atakaye ituhumu siku ya mwovu mbele yake? Ni nani atakayemwadhibu kwa alichokifanya?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
Hata hivyo atapelekwa kaburini; watu wataliona kaburi lake.
33 The clods of the valley have been sweet to him, And he draws every man after him, And there is no numbering before him.
Udongo wa bondeni utakuwa mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, hata kuwe na watu wengi mbele yake.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
Ni jinsi gani basi mtanifariji bila kufikiri, kwa kuwa majibu yenu hayana lolote ila uongo?”