Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
Can a man be serviceable unto God? Truly the intelligent is serviceable 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 any 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?
Is it out of fear of thee that he will reproach thee? or go with thee into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Is not thy evil great? and no end to thy iniquities?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brothers 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 from the hungry thou hast withholden bread.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
But as for the man of a strong arm, he obtained the land, and the highly honored could dwell therein.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
Widows hast thou sent away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore are snares round about thee, and sudden dread terrifieth thee.
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
Or seest thou not the darkness? and the abundance of water which covereth thee?
12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
Is not God in the height of heaven? and beholding the highest elevation of the stars, however high they are?
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
But thou sayest, “What doth God know? can he judge behind the darkness?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Thick clouds are a covering for him, so that he will not see; and he walketh along on the circle of heaven.”
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Wilt thou [thus] observe the path of ancient times which the men of injustice have trodden?
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
Who were shrivelled up before their time, whose foundation was flooded away like a river;
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
Who said unto God, “'Depart from us:” and what wrought the Almighty for them?
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
And yet it was he that filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The righteous will see it, and be glad; and the innocent will laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
“Is not he destroyed that rose up against us, and hath not the fire consumed what they had left?”
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Do but become acquainted with him, and be at peace: thereby will happiness come unto thee.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Do but accept instruction from his mouth, and lay up his saying 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, so thou wilt but remove wrong-doing far away from thy tents.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
And throw down in the dust precious metals, and [the gold of] Ophir to the stones of the brooks:
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
Then will the Almighty be thy precious metal, and brightly-shining silver unto thee.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then wilt thou have in the Almighty thy delight, and thou canst lift up unto God thy face.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
Thou wilt make entreaty unto him, and he will hear thee, and thy vows wilt thou pay.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee; and upon thy ways the light will shine.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
For when men are brought low, thou wilt say, Pride [hath done it]; but those of lowly eyes [God] will help.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will even deliver him who is not guiltless: and thou wilt be delivered by the purity of thy hands.
