Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
