Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Can a man, then, profit God? Behold, the wise man profiteth himself.
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 Is it a pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous; Or a gain to him, that thou walkest uprightly?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Will he contend with thee because he feareth thee? Will he enter with thee into judgment?
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 Hath not thy wickedness been great? Have not thine iniquities been numberless?
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother unjustly, And stripped the poor of their clothing.
Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
7 Thou hast given the weary no water to drink, And withholden bread from the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 But the man of power, his was the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, And broken the arms of the fatherless.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear confoundeth thee;
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 Or darkness, through which thou canst not see, And floods of water cover thee.
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the stars, how high they are!
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 Hence thou sayest, “What doth God know? Can he govern behind the thick darkness?
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 Dark clouds are a veil to him, and he cannot see; And he walketh upon the arch of heaven.”
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Wilt thou take the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 Who were cut down before their time, And whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 Who said unto God, “Depart from us!” And, “What can the Almighty do to us?”
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 And yet he filled their houses with good things!—Far from me be the counsel of the wicked!
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The righteous see their fate, and rejoice; And the innocent hold them in derision.
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 “Truly our adversary is destroyed, And fire hath consumed his abundance!”
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thus shall prosperity return to thee.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 Receive, I pray thee, instruction from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; If thou put away iniquity from thy tent.
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 Cast to the dust thy gold, And the gold of Ophir to the stones of the brook:
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 Then shall the Almighty be thy gold, Yea, treasures of silver unto thee;
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 For then shalt thou have delight in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 Thou shalt pray to him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt perform thy vows.
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 The purpose which thou formest shall prosper with thee, And light shall shine upon thy ways.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 When men are cast down, thou shalt say, “There lifting up!” And the humble person he will save.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 He will deliver even him that is not innocent. The purity of thy hands shall save him.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
