Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, And when by his light I walked through darkness!
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 As I was in the autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 When I bathed my steps in milk, And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went forth to the gate by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who had none to help him.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, And I caused the heart of the widow to sing for joy.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and diadem.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame;
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was a father to the poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
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 gathereth strength in my hand.”
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
