Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 When I bathed my steps in milk, And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
7 When I went forth to the gate by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
9 The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
10 The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who had none to help him.
kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
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.
Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
14 I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and diadem.
Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
15 I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame;
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I was a father to the poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
18 Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength in my hand.”
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
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.
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
