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, as he that is wise may be 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 you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you 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 earth; and the honorable man dwelled in it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
You 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 you, and sudden fear troubles you;
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
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 you say, How does 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 sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
Which said to God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for 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 see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come to you.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Receive, I pray you, the law 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 shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
Then shall you 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.
Yes, the Almighty shall be your defense, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face to God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
You shall make your prayer to him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you: and the light shall shine on your ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
