Job 29
1 Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
2 Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] 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 days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
6 When I washed my steps 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 out to the gate through 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 arose, [and] stood up.
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 nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him 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 judgment [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 poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil 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 [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
20 My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
21 To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
22 After my words they spoke 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 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.
