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 unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto 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 art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou hast taken a pledge from 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.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt 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 fear troubleth 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 height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
And thou sayest, How 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?
Hast thou 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 overflown with a flood:
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
Which said unto 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 consumeth.
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto 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 thine 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, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
Then shalt thou 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 shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then 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 shall 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 the light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When men are cast down, then thou shalt 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 thine hands.
