Job 29
1 And 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 shined upon 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 secret of God was upon 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 about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 When my steps were washed with butter, 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 unto the city, 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, and 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 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 cleaved 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 gave witness unto me:
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that 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 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 was I to the lame.
Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
16 I was a father to the needy: and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 And I brake 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 nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand:
Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
19 My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lieth all night upon my branch:
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
25 I chose out their way, and sat [as] chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
