Job 29
1 Job resumed speaking and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 “Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on 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 my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
