Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?
12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist.
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden?
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive the law of 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 wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.
