Ayubu 1
1 Katika nchi ya Usi paliishi mtu ambaye aliitwa Ayubu. Mtu huyu alikuwa hana hatia, naye alikuwa mkamilifu; alimcha Mungu na kuepukana na uovu.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil.
2 Alikuwa na wana saba na binti watatu,
And he had seven sons and three daughters.
3 naye alikuwa na kondoo elfu saba, ngamia elfu tatu, jozi mia tano za maksai, na punda mia tano, tena alikuwa na idadi kubwa ya watumishi. Alikuwa mtu mkuu sana miongoni mwa watu wa Mashariki.
And of cattle he had seven thousand sheep and goats, and three thousand camels, and a thousand oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great number of servants. And the man was greater than any of the sons of the east.
4 Wanawe walikuwa na desturi ya kufanya karamu katika nyumba zao kwa zamu, nao wangewaalika umbu zao watatu ili kula na kunywa pamoja nao.
His sons regularly went to one another's houses, and every one on his day gave a feast: and at these times they sent for their three sisters to take part in their feasts with them.
5 Wakati kipindi cha karamu kilimalizika, Ayubu angetuma waitwe na kuwafanyia utakaso. Angetoa dhabihu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao asubuhi na mapema, akifikiri, “Pengine wanangu wametenda dhambi na kumlaani Mungu mioyoni mwao.” Hii ilikuwa ndiyo desturi ya kawaida ya Ayubu.
And at the end of their days of feasting, Job sent and made them clean, getting up early in the morning and offering burned offerings for them all. For, Job said, It may be that my sons have done wrong and said evil of God in their hearts. And Job did this whenever the feasts came round.
6 Siku moja wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujionyesha mbele za Bwana. Shetani naye akaja pamoja nao.
And there was a day when the sons of the gods came together before the Lord, and the Satan came with them.
7 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Umetoka wapi?” Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Natoka kuzunguka pote duniani, nikitembea huku na huko humo.”
And the Lord said to the Satan, Where do you come from? And the Satan said in answer, From wandering this way and that on the earth, and walking about on it.
8 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Je, umemwangalia huyo mtumishi wangu Ayubu? Hakuna mtu mwingine duniani aliye kama yeye, asiye na hatia, ni mnyofu, mwenye kumcha Mungu, na kuepukana na uovu.”
And the Lord said to the Satan, Have you taken note of my servant Job, for there is no one like him on the earth, a man without sin and upright, fearing God and keeping himself far from evil?
9 Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Je, Ayubu anamcha Mungu bure?
And the Satan said in answer to the Lord, Is it for nothing that Job is a god-fearing man?
10 Je, wewe hukumjengea boma pande zote yeye na wa nyumbani mwake pamoja na kila kitu alicho nacho? Kazi za mikono yake umezibariki na hivyo makundi yake ya kondoo na mbuzi pamoja na ya wanyama yameenea katika nchi nzima.
Have you yourself not put a wall round him and his house and all he has on every side, blessing the work of his hands, and increasing his cattle in the land?
11 Lakini nyoosha mkono wako na kupiga kila kitu alicho nacho, naye kwa hakika atakulaani mbele za uso wako.”
But now, put out your hand against all he has, and he will be cursing you to your face.
12 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Vema sana, kwa hiyo, kila kitu alicho nacho kiko mikononi mwako, lakini juu ya huyo mtu mwenyewe usimguse hata kwa kidole.” Ndipo Shetani akatoka mbele za Bwana.
And the Lord said to the Satan, See, I give all he has into your hands, only do not put a finger on the man himself. And the Satan went out from before the Lord.
13 Siku moja watoto wa Ayubu walipokuwa wakifanya karamu wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
And there was a day when his sons and daughters were feasting in the house of their oldest brother,
14 akaja mjumbe kwa Ayubu na kusema, “Maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao,
And a man came to Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses were taking their food by their side:
15 Waseba wakawashambulia na kuchukua mifugo. Kisha wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
And the men of Sheba came against them and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
16 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Moto wa Mungu ulishuka kutoka mbinguni na kuteketeza kondoo na watumishi, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The fire of God came down from heaven, burning up the sheep and the goats and the young men completely, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
17 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Wakaldayo waliunda vikosi vitatu vya uvamizi na kuwaangukia ngamia wako na kuwachukua wakaondoka nao. Wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari.”
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, The Chaldaeans made themselves into three bands, and came down on the camels and took them away, putting the young men to the sword, and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
18 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Wana wako na binti zako walipokuwa wakifanya karamu, wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
And this one was still talking when another came, and said, Your sons and your daughters were feasting together in their oldest brother's house,
19 ghafula upepo wenye nguvu ukavuma kutoka jangwani, nao ukaipiga nyumba hiyo pembe zake nne. Ikawaangukia hao watoto nao wamekufa, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
When a great wind came rushing from the waste land against the four sides of the house, and it came down on the young men, and they are dead; and I was the only one who got away safe to give you the news.
20 Ndipo Ayubu akasimama, akararua joho lake na kunyoa nywele zake. Kisha akaanguka chini katika kuabudu
Then Job got up, and after parting his clothing and cutting off his hair, he went down on his face to the earth, and gave worship, and said,
21 na kusema: “Nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu uchi, nami nitaondoka uchi, Bwana alinipa, naye Bwana ameviondoa, jina la Bwana litukuzwe.”
With nothing I came out of my mother's body, and with nothing I will go back there; the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; let the Lord's name be praised.
22 Katika mambo haya yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi kwa kumlaumu Mungu kwa kufanya ubaya.
In all this Job did no sin, and did not say that God's acts were foolish.
