Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
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 reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
Thou hast 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 dread affrighted thee,
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
Or darkness, that thou canst not 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 topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Wilt 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 unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
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 saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive, I pray thee, instruction 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 shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.
