Job 21
1 Then Job answered,
Ndipo Ayubu akajibu:
2 “Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
“Yasikilizeni maneno yangu kwa makini; hii na iwe faraja mnayonipa mimi.
3 Allow me, and I also will speak. After I have spoken, mock on.
Nivumilieni ninapozungumza, nami nikishazungumza, endeleeni kunidhihaki.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn’t I be impatient?
“Je, kwani malalamiko yangu yanaelekezwa kwa mwanadamu? Kwa nini nisikose subira?
5 Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.
Niangalieni mkastaajabu; mkaweke mkono juu ya vinywa vyenu.
6 When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.
Ninapowaza juu ya hili, ninaogopa, nao mwili wangu unatetemeka.
7 “Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?
Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wakifikia umri wa uzee na kuendelea kuwa na nguvu?
8 Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
Huwaona watoto wao wakithibitika wakiwa wamewazunguka, wazao wao mbele za macho yao.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Nyumba zao zi salama wala hakuna hofu; fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.
10 Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don’t miscarry.
Madume yao ya ngʼombe huvyaza bila kushindwa kamwe; ngʼombe wao huzaa wala hawaharibu mimba.
11 They send out their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.
Huwatoa watoto wao nje kama kundi; wadogo wao huchezacheza.
12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Huimba nyimbo kwa matari na kwa kinubi, nao huifurahia sauti ya filimbi.
Huitumia miaka yao katika mafanikio nao hushuka kaburini kwa amani. (Sheol h7585)
14 They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways.
Lakini humwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi!’ Hatuna haja ya kufahamu njia zako.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?’
Mwenyezi ni nani hata tumtumikie? Tutapata faida gani kumwomba?
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lakini kufanikiwa kwao hakupo mikononi mwao wenyewe, hivyo najitenga mbali na shauri la waovu.
17 “How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out, that their calamity comes on them, that God distributes sorrows in his anger?
“Lakini ni mara ngapi taa ya waovu huzimwa? Ni mara ngapi maafa huwajia, yale yawapatayo ambayo Mungu huwapangia katika hasira yake?
18 How often is it that they are as stubble before the wind, as chaff that the storm carries away?
Ni mara ngapi huwa kama majani makavu mbele ya upepo, kama makapi yachukuliwayo na dhoruba?
19 You say, ‘God lays up his iniquity for his children.’ Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.
Imesemekana, ‘Mungu huiweka akiba adhabu ya mtu kwa ajili ya wanawe.’ Mungu na amlipe mtu mwenyewe, ili apate kulijua!
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Macho yake mwenyewe na yaone maangamizi yake; yeye na ainywe ghadhabu ya Mwenyezi.
21 For what does he care for his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
Kwani anajali nini kuhusu jamaa anayoiacha nyuma, miezi yake aliyopangiwa ifikapo mwisho?
22 “Shall any teach God knowledge, since he judges those who are high?
“Je, yuko mtu yeyote awezaye kumfundisha Mungu maarifa, iwapo yeye ndiye ahukumuye hata walio juu ya wote?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
Mtu mmoja hufa akiwa na nguvu zake kamili, akiwa salama na mwenye raha kamili,
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
mwili wake ukiwa umenawiri, nayo mifupa yake ikiwa imejaa mafuta ndani yake.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
Mtu mwingine hufa katika uchungu wa nafsi, akiwa hajafurahia kamwe jambo lolote zuri.
26 They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
Hao wote hulala mavumbini, nao mabuu huwafunika wote.
27 “Behold, I know your thoughts, the plans with which you would wrong me.
“Ninayajua kikamilifu yale mnayoyafikiri, mipango ambayo kwayo mngenitendea mabaya.
28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?’
Mwasema, ‘Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya huyo mtu mkuu, mahema ambayo watu waovu walikaa?’
29 Haven’t you asked wayfaring men? Don’t you know their evidences,
Je, hamkuwahi kuwauliza hao wanaosafiri? Je, hamkutafakari taarifa zao:
30 that the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led out to the day of wrath?
kwamba mtu mwovu huepushwa kutoka siku ya maafa, kwamba huokolewa kutoka siku ya ghadhabu?
31 Who will declare his way to his face? Who will repay him what he has done?
Ni nani hulaumu matendo yake mbele ya uso wake? Ni nani ampatilizaye kwa yale aliyoyatenda?
32 Yet he will be borne to the grave. Men will keep watch over the tomb.
Hupelekwa kaburini, nao ulinzi ukawekwa kwenye kaburi lake.
33 The clods of the valley will be sweet to him. All men will draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
Udongo ulio bondeni ni mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, nao umati wa watu usiohesabika umemtangulia.
34 So how can you comfort me with nonsense, because in your answers there remains only falsehood?”
“Hivyo ninyi mnawezaje kunifariji kwa upuzi wenu? Hakuna kilichosalia cha majibu yenu isipokuwa uongo!”
