Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
