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? surely he that is wise is 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?
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? neither is there any end to thine iniquities.
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.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man, he 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, What doth God know? can he judge through the thick darkness?
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 can the Almighty do for us?
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
Yet he fired 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.’
[Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them 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 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; 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 thou [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 shall be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then shalt thou delight thyself 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 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; and the humble person he shall save.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He shall deliver [even] him that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thine hands.
