Ayubu 29
1 Ningĩ Ayubu nĩathiire na mbere kwaria, akiuga atĩrĩ:
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 “Naarĩ korwo no haane ũrĩa ndaatariĩ mĩeri ĩrĩa ya tene, matukũ-inĩ marĩa Ngai aamenyagĩrĩra,
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 rĩrĩa tawa wake wamũrĩkaga igũrũ rĩa mũtwe wakwa, na ũndũ wa ũtheri wake ngatuĩkanagĩria nduma-inĩ!
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 Korwo ndariĩ ũrĩa ndatariĩ matukũ-inĩ marĩa ndagaacĩire biũ, hĩndĩ ĩrĩa kuumĩrania ngoro na Ngai kwarathimaga nyũmba yakwa,
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 rĩrĩa Mwene-Hinya-Wothe aarĩ hamwe na niĩ, nacio ciana ciakwa ikandigiicĩria,
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 rĩrĩa gacĩra gakwa kaihũgĩtio nĩ kĩrimũ kĩa iria, naruo rwaro rwa ihiga rũgaatherũkagĩra tũrũũĩ twa maguta ma mũtamaiyũ!
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 “Rĩrĩa ndaathiiaga kĩhingo-inĩ kĩa itũũra inene, na ngaikarĩra gĩtĩ gĩakwa hau kĩaraho-inĩ-rĩ,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 aanake maanyonaga makeehera, nao athuuri makarũgama,
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 andũ arĩa anene maatigaga kwaria, makahumbĩra tũnua twao na moko;
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 mĩgambo ya andũ arĩa marĩ igweta ĩgakirio, nacio nĩmĩ ciao ikanyiitana na karakara.
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Ũrĩa wothe wanjiguaga ngĩaria aaragia wega igũrũ rĩakwa, nao arĩa maanyonaga makangaathĩrĩria,
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 nĩ ũndũ nĩndahatũraga arĩa athĩĩni maakaya mateithio, o na arĩa mataarĩ na maithe maagĩte mũndũ wa kũmateithia.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 Mũndũ agĩkua nĩandaathimaga; nĩndatũmaga ngoro ya mũtumia wa ndigwa ĩine.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 Ndehumbaga ũthingu ta nguo; ciira wa kĩhooto nĩguo warĩ nguo yakwa ya igũrũ, o na kĩremba gĩakwa.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 Nĩ niĩ ndaarĩ maitho ma arĩa atumumu, na magũrũ ma arĩa ithua.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 Ndaarĩ ithe wa arĩa abatari; nĩndaciiragĩrĩra o na mũndũ itooĩ.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Ningĩ nĩndoinangaga magego ma arĩa aaganu, na ngahuria arĩa maarĩ magego-inĩ mao.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 “Ndeciiragia atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ngaakuĩra gwakwa nyũmba, matukũ makwa marĩ maingĩ ta mũthanga.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 Mĩri yakwa ĩgataamba ĩkinye maaĩ-inĩ, narĩo ireera rĩkoragwo honge-inĩ ciakwa ũtukũ wothe.
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 Riiri wakwa ũgũtũũra werũhagio thĩinĩ wakwa, naguo ũta wakwa ũtũũre ũrĩ mwerũ guoko-inĩ gwakwa.’
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 “Andũ maathikagĩrĩria marĩ na kĩĩrĩgĩrĩro, meetagĩrĩra kĩrĩra gĩakwa makirĩte.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 Ndaarĩkia kwaria-rĩ, matiacookaga kwaria; ciugo ciakwa ciatoonyaga matũ mao kahora ihooreire.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 Maanjetagĩrĩra ta andũ metereire mbura, na makanyua ciugo ciakwa o ta mbura ĩrĩa ya kũrigĩrĩria.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Ndaamathekathekagia moorĩtwo nĩ hinya makaaga gwĩtĩkia; ũtheri wa ũthiũ wakwa warĩ wa bata mũno kũrĩ o.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Nĩ niĩ ndamoonagia njĩra, ngaikaraga ta ndĩ mũnene wao; ndatũũraga ta mũthamaki arĩ gatagatĩ ga ita rĩake; ningĩ ndaatariĩ ta mũndũ ũrĩa ũhooragĩria arĩa maracakaya.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
