Job 29
1 Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and 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 judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 [If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
