Ayubu 29
1 Ningĩ Ayubu nĩathiire na mbere kwaria, akiuga atĩrĩ:
Job went on speaking.
2 “Naarĩ korwo no haane ũrĩa ndaatariĩ mĩeri ĩrĩa ya tene, matukũ-inĩ marĩa Ngai aamenyagĩrĩra,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 rĩrĩa tawa wake wamũrĩkaga igũrũ rĩa mũtwe wakwa, na ũndũ wa ũtheri wake ngatuĩkanagĩria nduma-inĩ!
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Korwo ndariĩ ũrĩa ndatariĩ matukũ-inĩ marĩa ndagaacĩire biũ, hĩndĩ ĩrĩa kuumĩrania ngoro na Ngai kwarathimaga nyũmba yakwa,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 rĩrĩa Mwene-Hinya-Wothe aarĩ hamwe na niĩ, nacio ciana ciakwa ikandigiicĩria,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 rĩrĩa gacĩra gakwa kaihũgĩtio nĩ kĩrimũ kĩa iria, naruo rwaro rwa ihiga rũgaatherũkagĩra tũrũũĩ twa maguta ma mũtamaiyũ!
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 “Rĩrĩa ndaathiiaga kĩhingo-inĩ kĩa itũũra inene, na ngaikarĩra gĩtĩ gĩakwa hau kĩaraho-inĩ-rĩ,
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 aanake maanyonaga makeehera, nao athuuri makarũgama,
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 andũ arĩa anene maatigaga kwaria, makahumbĩra tũnua twao na moko;
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 mĩgambo ya andũ arĩa marĩ igweta ĩgakirio, nacio nĩmĩ ciao ikanyiitana na karakara.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Ũrĩa wothe wanjiguaga ngĩaria aaragia wega igũrũ rĩakwa, nao arĩa maanyonaga makangaathĩrĩria,
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 nĩ ũndũ nĩndahatũraga arĩa athĩĩni maakaya mateithio, o na arĩa mataarĩ na maithe maagĩte mũndũ wa kũmateithia.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Mũndũ agĩkua nĩandaathimaga; nĩndatũmaga ngoro ya mũtumia wa ndigwa ĩine.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Ndehumbaga ũthingu ta nguo; ciira wa kĩhooto nĩguo warĩ nguo yakwa ya igũrũ, o na kĩremba gĩakwa.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Nĩ niĩ ndaarĩ maitho ma arĩa atumumu, na magũrũ ma arĩa ithua.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Ndaarĩ ithe wa arĩa abatari; nĩndaciiragĩrĩra o na mũndũ itooĩ.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Ningĩ nĩndoinangaga magego ma arĩa aaganu, na ngahuria arĩa maarĩ magego-inĩ mao.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 “Ndeciiragia atĩrĩ, ‘Niĩ ngaakuĩra gwakwa nyũmba, matukũ makwa marĩ maingĩ ta mũthanga.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Mĩri yakwa ĩgataamba ĩkinye maaĩ-inĩ, narĩo ireera rĩkoragwo honge-inĩ ciakwa ũtukũ wothe.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Riiri wakwa ũgũtũũra werũhagio thĩinĩ wakwa, naguo ũta wakwa ũtũũre ũrĩ mwerũ guoko-inĩ gwakwa.’
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 “Andũ maathikagĩrĩria marĩ na kĩĩrĩgĩrĩro, meetagĩrĩra kĩrĩra gĩakwa makirĩte.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Ndaarĩkia kwaria-rĩ, matiacookaga kwaria; ciugo ciakwa ciatoonyaga matũ mao kahora ihooreire.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Maanjetagĩrĩra ta andũ metereire mbura, na makanyua ciugo ciakwa o ta mbura ĩrĩa ya kũrigĩrĩria.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Ndaamathekathekagia moorĩtwo nĩ hinya makaaga gwĩtĩkia; ũtheri wa ũthiũ wakwa warĩ wa bata mũno kũrĩ o.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
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 decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
