Job 29
1 And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 “Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has no helper.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
