< Job 12 >
2 "No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
“Bila shaka ninyi ndio watu, nayo hekima itakoma mtakapokufa!
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?
Lakini mimi ninao ufahamu kama ninyi; mimi si duni kwenu. Ni nani asiyejua mambo haya yote?
4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
“Nimekuwa mtu wa kuchekwa na rafiki zangu, ingawa nilimwita Mungu naye akanijibu: mimi ni mtu wa kuchekwa tu, ingawa ni mwadilifu na nisiye na hatia!
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
Wanadamu wakiwa katika utulivu huwa na dharau kwa wale wenye msiba kana kwamba ndiyo haki ya wale ambao miguu yao inateleza.
6 The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
Hema za wanyangʼanyi hazisumbuliwi, wale wanaomghadhibisha Mungu wako salama: wale wamchukuao mungu wao mikononi mwao.
7 "But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
“Lakini ulizeni wanyama, nao watawafundisha, au ndege wa angani, nao watawaambia;
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
au zungumzeni na dunia, nayo itawafundisha, au acheni samaki wa baharini wawape taarifa.
9 Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of Jehovah has done this,
Ni nani miongoni mwa hawa wote asiyejua kwamba mkono wa Bwana ndio uliofanya hili?
10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all humankind?
Mkononi mwake kuna uhai wa kila kiumbe, na pumzi ya wanadamu wote.
11 Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Je, sikio haliyajaribu maneno kama vile ulimi uonjavyo chakula?
12 With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
Je, hekima haipatikani katikati ya wazee? Je, maisha marefu hayaleti ufahamu?
13 "With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
“Hekima na nguvu ni vya Mungu; shauri na ufahamu ni vyake yeye.
14 Look, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
Kile anachokibomoa hakiwezi kujengeka tena; mtu aliyefungiwa naye hawezi kufunguliwa.
15 Look, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth.
Akizuia maji, huwa pana ukame; akiyaachia maji, huharibu nchi.
16 With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Kwake kuna nguvu na ushindi; adanganywaye na adanganyaye, wote wawili ni wake.
17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
Yeye huwaondoa washauri wakiwa wametekwa nyara, naye huwapumbaza wanaotoa maamuzi.
18 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
Huondoa pingu zilizofungwa na wafalme, na kuwafunga mishipi ya kiunoni.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
Huwaondoa makuhani wakiwa wametekwa nyara, na kuwaangusha waliojiimarisha muda mrefu.
20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
Hunyamazisha midomo ya washauri wanaoaminika, na kuondoa busara ya wazee.
21 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
Huwamwagia dharau wanaoheshimika, na kuwavua silaha wenye nguvu.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
Hufunua mambo ya ndani ya gizani, na kuyaleta nuruni yale yaliyositirika sana.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
Huyafanya mataifa yatukuke na kuyaangamiza; hufanya mataifa kuwa makubwa, naye huyatawanya.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
Huwaondolea viongozi wa nchi akili zao; huwapeleka watangetange nyikani pasipo na njia.
25 They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Hupapasa gizani pasipokuwa na mwanga; huwafanya wapepesuke kama walevi.