< Job 4 >
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 If anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?
“Kama mtu akithubutu kuzungumza nawe, kutakukasirisha? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asiseme?
3 See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.
Fikiri jinsi ambavyo umewafundisha watu wengi, jinsi ambavyo umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa dhaifu.
4 Your words have supported him who was falling; you have made feeble knees firm.
Maneno yako yamewategemeza wale waliojikwaa; umeyatia nguvu magoti yaliyokuwa dhaifu.
5 But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.
Lakini sasa hii taabu imekujia wewe, nawe unashuka moyo; imekupiga wewe, nawe unafadhaika.
6 Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
Je, kumcha Mungu kwako hakupaswi kuwa ndiyo matumaini yako na njia zako kutokuwa na lawama ndilo taraja lako?
7 Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever cut off?
“Fikiri sasa: Ni mtu yupi asiye na hatia ambaye aliwahi kuangamia? Ni wapi wanyofu waliwahi kuangamizwa?
8 According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.
Kwa jinsi ambavyo mimi nimechunguza, wale walimao ubaya na wale hupanda uovu, huvuna hayo hayo hayo.
9 By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
Kwa pumzi ya Mungu huangamizwa; kwa mshindo wa hasira zake huangamia.
10 The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.
Simba anaweza kunguruma na kukoroma, lakini bado meno ya simba mkubwa huvunjika.
11 The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.
Simba anaweza kuangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, nao wana wa simba jike hutawanyika.
12 Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.
“Neno lililetwa kwangu kwa siri, masikio yangu yakasikia mnongʼono wake.
13 Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.
Katikati ya ndoto za kutia wasiwasi wakati wa usiku, hapo usingizi mzito uwapatapo wanadamu,
14 It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.
hofu na kutetemeka kulinishika na kufanya mifupa yangu yote itetemeke.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, and the hair of my flesh stood up.
Kuna roho aliyepita mbele ya uso wangu, nazo nywele za mwili wangu zikasimama.
16 The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,
Yule roho akasimama, lakini sikuweza kutambua kilikuwa kitu gani. Umbo fulani lilisimama mbele ya macho yangu, kukawa na ukimya kisha nikasikia sauti:
17 “Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
‘Je, binadamu aweza kuwa mwadilifu kuliko Mungu? Je, mtu aweza kuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
18 See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of folly,
Kama Mungu hawaamini watumishi wake, kama yeye huwalaumu malaika zake kwa kukosea,
19 how much more is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?
ni mara ngapi zaidi wale waishio katika nyumba za udongo wa mfinyanzi, ambazo misingi yake ipo mavumbini, ambao wamepondwa kama nondo!
20 Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.
Kati ya mawio na machweo huvunjwa vipande vipande; bila yeyote kutambua, huangamia milele.
21 Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.
Je, kamba za hema yao hazikungʼolewa, hivyo hufa bila hekima?’