Job 29
1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 when Shaddai was yet with me, and my children were around me,
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 "Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my words they did not speak again. My speech fell on them.
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
