Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered, and said,
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou are righteous? Or is it gain to him that thou make thy ways perfect?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Is it for thy fear of him that he reproves thee, that he enters with thee into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou have taken pledges from thy brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
Thou have not given water to the weary to drink, and thou have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
But as for the mighty man, he had the land. And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
Thou have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubles thee,
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
or darkness, so that thou cannot see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
And thou say, What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Will thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
who said to God, Depart from us, and, What can the Almighty do for us?
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
Yet he filled their houses with good things. But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The righteous see it, and are glad. And the innocent laugh them to scorn,
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
Saying, Surely those who rose up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them, the fire has consumed.
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace. By this good shall come to thee.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.
23 Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shall be built up, thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
Then thou shall lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
Yea, the Almighty will be thy treasure, and precious silver to thee.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then shall thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shall lift up thy face to God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
Thou shall make thy prayer to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shall pay thy vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
Thou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to thee. And light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When they cast thee down, thou shall say, There is lifting up, and he will save the humble man.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will deliver even him who is not innocent. Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
