Ayubu 17
1 Moyo wangu umevunjika, siku zangu zimefupishwa, kaburi linaningojea.
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 Hakika wenye mizaha wamenizunguka; macho yangu yamebaki kutazama uadui wao.
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 “Ee Mungu, nipe dhamana unayodai. Ni nani mwingine atakayeweka dhamana kwa ajili yangu?
“God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
4 Umezifunga akili zao zisipate ufahamu, kwa hiyo hutawaacha wapate ushindi.
You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].
5 Kama mtu akiwashutumu rafiki zake ili apate ujira, macho ya watoto wake yatashindwa kuona.
[Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].
6 “Mungu amenifanya kitu cha dhihaka kwa kila mtu, mtu ambaye watu humtemea mate usoni.
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 Macho yangu yamefifia kwa ajili ya majonzi; umbile langu lote ni kama kivuli.
(My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.
8 Watu wanyofu wanatishwa na hili; watu wasio na hatia wanasimama dhidi ya wasiomcha Mungu.
Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.
9 Hata hivyo, waadilifu watazishika njia zao, nao wale wenye mikono safi wataendelea kupata nguvu.
Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become stronger.
10 “Lakini ninyi njooni, ninyi nyote, jaribuni tena! Sitampata mtu mwenye hekima miongoni mwenu.
“But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
11 Siku zangu zimepita, mipango yangu imevunjika, vivyo hivyo shauku za moyo wangu.
My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.
12 Watu hawa hufanya usiku kuwa mchana, kwenye giza wao husema, ‘Mwanga u karibu.’
My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.
13 Kama nyumba pekee ninayoitarajia ni kaburi, kama nikikitandika kitanda changu gizani, (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 kama nikiuambia uharibifu, ‘Wewe u baba yangu,’ na kuliambia buu, ‘Wewe u mama yangu’ au ‘Dada yangu,’
I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’
15 liko wapi basi tarajio langu? Ni nani awezaye kuona tarajio lolote kwa ajili yangu?
But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]
After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)
