Ayubu 15
1 Kisha Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “Je, mtu mwenye hekima hujibu kwa mawazo matupu, au kujaza tumbo lake kwa upepo wenye joto wa mashariki?
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3 Je, aweza kubishana juu ya maneno yasiyofaa, kwa hotuba zisizo na maana?
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4 Lakini unadhoofisha hata uchaji wa Mungu na kuzuia ibada mbele za Mungu.
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5 Dhambi yako inasukuma kinywa chako, nawe umechagua ulimi wa hila.
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Kinywa chako mwenyewe kinakuhukumu, wala si changu; midomo yako mwenyewe inashuhudia dhidi yako.
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7 “Je, wewe ni mtu wa kwanza kuzaliwa? Ulizaliwa kabla ya vilima?
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Je, wewe husikiliza mashauri ya siri ya Mungu? Je, wewe unaizuia hekima iwe yako mwenyewe?
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9 Wewe unajua kitu gani tusichokijua sisi? Unafahamu kitu gani tusichokifahamu sisi?
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Wale wenye mvi na wazee wako upande wetu, watu ambao ni wazee hata kuliko baba yako.
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11 Je, faraja za Mungu hazikutoshi, au maneno yaliyosemwa kwako kwa upole si kitu?
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12 Kwa nini moyo wako unakudanganya, na kwa nini macho yako yanangʼaa,
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 ili kwamba upate kutoa hasira yako dhidi ya Mungu, na kumwaga maneno kama hayo kutoka kinywani mwako?
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14 “Mwanadamu ni kitu gani, hata aweze kuwa safi, au yeye aliyezaliwa na mwanamke, hata aweze kuwa mwadilifu?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 Kama Mungu hawaamini watakatifu wake, kama hata mbingu zenyewe si safi machoni pake,
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 sembuse mwanadamu ambaye ni mwovu na mpotovu, ambaye hunywa uovu kama anywavyo maji!
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17 “Nisikilize mimi nami nitakueleza, acha nikuambie yale niliyoyaona,
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18 ambayo watu wenye hekima wameyanena, bila kuficha lolote walilopokea toka kwa baba zao
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 (wakati ambao wao peke yao ndio walipewa nchi, hakuna mgeni aliyepita miongoni mwao):
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 Mtu mwovu siku zake zote hupata mateso, miaka yote aliwekewa mkorofi.
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 Sauti za kutisha hujaa masikioni mwake; katika kufanikiwa kwake, wanyangʼanyi humshambulia.
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 Hukata tamaa kuokoka gizani; amewekwa kwa ajili ya upanga.
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23 Hutangatanga, akitafuta chakula; anajua kwamba siku ya giza iko karibu.
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Taabu na maumivu makuu vinamtia hofu; humshinda kama mfalme aliye tayari kwa vita,
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25 kwa sababu amemkunjia Mungu ngumi yake na kujigamba dhidi ya Mwenyezi,
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26 kwa kiburi akishambulia dhidi ya Mungu akiwa na ngao nene, iliyo imara.
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27 “Ingawa uso wake umefunikwa na mafuta kwa unene na kiuno chake kimevimba kwa kunenepa,
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28 ataishi katika miji ya magofu, na katika nyumba ambazo haziishi mwanadamu yeyote, nyumba zinazokuwa vifusi.
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29 Hatatajirika tena, nao utajiri wake hautadumu, wala mali zake hazitakuwa nyingi juu ya nchi.
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30 Hatatoka gizani; mwali wa moto utanyausha machipukizi yake, nayo pumzi ya kinywa cha Mungu itamwondolea mbali.
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 Asijidanganye mwenyewe kutumainia ubatili, kwa kuwa hatapata malipo yoyote.
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 Atakuwa amelipwa kikamilifu kabla ya wakati wake, nayo matawi yake hayatastawi.
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33 Atafanana na mzabibu uliopukutishwa matunda yake kabla hayajaiva, kama mzeituni unaodondosha maua yake.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34 Kwa kuwa jamii ya wasiomcha Mungu watakuwa tasa, nao moto utateketeza hema za wale wanaopenda rushwa.
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 Hutunga mimba ya madhara na kuzaa uovu; matumbo yao huumba udanganyifu.”
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
