Ayubu 21
1 Ndipo Ayubu akajibu:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Yasikilizeni maneno yangu kwa makini; hii na iwe faraja mnayonipa mimi.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Nivumilieni ninapozungumza, nami nikishazungumza, endeleeni kunidhihaki.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 “Je, kwani malalamiko yangu yanaelekezwa kwa mwanadamu? Kwa nini nisikose subira?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Niangalieni mkastaajabu; mkaweke mkono juu ya vinywa vyenu.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Ninapowaza juu ya hili, ninaogopa, nao mwili wangu unatetemeka.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wakifikia umri wa uzee na kuendelea kuwa na nguvu?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Huwaona watoto wao wakithibitika wakiwa wamewazunguka, wazao wao mbele za macho yao.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Nyumba zao zi salama wala hakuna hofu; fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Madume yao ya ngʼombe huvyaza bila kushindwa kamwe; ngʼombe wao huzaa wala hawaharibu mimba.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Huwatoa watoto wao nje kama kundi; wadogo wao huchezacheza.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 Huimba nyimbo kwa matari na kwa kinubi, nao huifurahia sauti ya filimbi.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Lakini humwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi!’ Hatuna haja ya kufahamu njia zako.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Mwenyezi ni nani hata tumtumikie? Tutapata faida gani kumwomba?
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Lakini kufanikiwa kwao hakupo mikononi mwao wenyewe, hivyo najitenga mbali na shauri la waovu.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
17 “Lakini ni mara ngapi taa ya waovu huzimwa? Ni mara ngapi maafa huwajia, yale yawapatayo ambayo Mungu huwapangia katika hasira yake?
How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Ni mara ngapi huwa kama majani makavu mbele ya upepo, kama makapi yachukuliwayo na dhoruba?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Imesemekana, ‘Mungu huiweka akiba adhabu ya mtu kwa ajili ya wanawe.’ Mungu na amlipe mtu mwenyewe, ili apate kulijua!
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Macho yake mwenyewe na yaone maangamizi yake; yeye na ainywe ghadhabu ya Mwenyezi.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Kwani anajali nini kuhusu jamaa anayoiacha nyuma, miezi yake aliyopangiwa ifikapo mwisho?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 “Je, yuko mtu yeyote awezaye kumfundisha Mungu maarifa, iwapo yeye ndiye ahukumuye hata walio juu ya wote?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Mtu mmoja hufa akiwa na nguvu zake kamili, akiwa salama na mwenye raha kamili,
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 mwili wake ukiwa umenawiri, nayo mifupa yake ikiwa imejaa mafuta ndani yake.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Mtu mwingine hufa katika uchungu wa nafsi, akiwa hajafurahia kamwe jambo lolote zuri.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Hao wote hulala mavumbini, nao mabuu huwafunika wote.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 “Ninayajua kikamilifu yale mnayoyafikiri, mipango ambayo kwayo mngenitendea mabaya.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Mwasema, ‘Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya huyo mtu mkuu, mahema ambayo watu waovu walikaa?’
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Je, hamkuwahi kuwauliza hao wanaosafiri? Je, hamkutafakari taarifa zao:
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 kwamba mtu mwovu huepushwa kutoka siku ya maafa, kwamba huokolewa kutoka siku ya ghadhabu?
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Ni nani hulaumu matendo yake mbele ya uso wake? Ni nani ampatilizaye kwa yale aliyoyatenda?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Hupelekwa kaburini, nao ulinzi ukawekwa kwenye kaburi lake.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Udongo ulio bondeni ni mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, nao umati wa watu usiohesabika umemtangulia.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 “Hivyo ninyi mnawezaje kunifariji kwa upuzi wenu? Hakuna kilichosalia cha majibu yenu isipokuwa uongo!”
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
