Job 29
1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 “Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 when his lamp shone on my head, and 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in 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 steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
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 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. The aged rose up and stood.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who 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 ready to perish came on 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 justice 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 to the lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 Then I said, ‘I will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 “Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
