Job 29
1 And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 “Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
4 As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
7 When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
8 Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
9 Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
10 The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has no helper.
kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
13 The blessing of the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
14 I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
15 I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
18 And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
25 I choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
