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, then, profit God? Behold, the wise man profiteth himself.
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
Is it a pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous; Or a gain to him, that thou walkest uprightly?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Will he contend with thee because he feareth thee? Will he enter with thee into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Hath not thy wickedness been great? Have not thine iniquities been numberless?
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother unjustly, And stripped the poor of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
Thou hast given the weary no water to drink, And withholden bread from the hungry.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
But the man of power, his was the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, And broken the arms of the fatherless.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear confoundeth thee;
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
Or darkness, through which thou canst not see, And floods of water 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 stars, how high they are!
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
Hence thou sayest, “What doth God know? Can he govern behind the thick darkness?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Dark clouds are a veil to him, and he cannot see; And he walketh upon the arch of heaven.”
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Wilt thou take the old way Which wicked men have trodden,
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
Who were cut down before their time, And whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
Who said unto God, “Depart from us!” And, “What can the Almighty do to us?”
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
And yet he filled their houses with good things!—Far from me be the counsel of the wicked!
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The righteous see their fate, and rejoice; And the innocent hold them in derision.
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
“Truly our adversary is destroyed, And fire hath consumed his abundance!”
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thus shall prosperity return to thee.
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 iniquity from thy tent.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
Cast to the dust thy gold, And the gold of Ophir to the stones of the brook:
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
Then shall the Almighty be thy gold, Yea, treasures of silver unto thee;
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then shalt thou have delight in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
Thou shalt pray to him, and he shall hear thee, And thou shalt perform thy vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
The purpose which thou formest shall prosper with thee, And light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When men are cast down, thou shalt say, “There lifting up!” And the humble person he will save.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will deliver even him that is not innocent. The purity of thy hands shall save him.
