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. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 Alikuwa na wana saba na binti watatu,
There were born to him 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.
His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children 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 went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink 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.
It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts.” Job did so continually.
6 Siku moja wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujionyesha mbele za Bwana. Shetani naye akaja pamoja nao.
Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before the LORD, Satan also came amongst them.
7 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Umetoka wapi?” Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Natoka kuzunguka pote duniani, nikitembea huku na huko humo.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in 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.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.”
9 Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Je, Ayubu anamcha Mungu bure?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
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.
Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 Lakini nyoosha mkono wako na kupiga kila kitu alicho nacho, naye kwa hakika atakulaani mbele za uso wako.”
But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce 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.
The LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Siku moja watoto wa Ayubu walipokuwa wakifanya karamu wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 akaja mjumbe kwa Ayubu na kusema, “Maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao,
that a messenger came to Job, and said, “The oxen were ploughing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 Waseba wakawashambulia na kuchukua mifugo. Kisha wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
and the Sabeans attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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!”
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burnt up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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.”
While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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,
While he was still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine 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!”
and behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Ndipo Ayubu akasimama, akararua joho lake na kunyoa nywele zake. Kisha akaanguka chini katika kuabudu
Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped.
21 na kusema: “Nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu uchi, nami nitaondoka uchi, Bwana alinipa, naye Bwana ameviondoa, jina la Bwana litukuzwe.”
He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the LORD’s name.”
22 Katika mambo haya yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi kwa kumlaumu Mungu kwa kufanya ubaya.
In all this, Job didn’t sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.
