Ayubu 24
1 “Kwa nini Mwenyezi asiweke nyakati kwa ajili ya hukumu? Kwa nini wale wamjuao wazitafute siku kama hizo bila mafanikio?
“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?
2 Watu husogeza mawe ya mpaka; huchunga makundi ya wanyama waliyonyangʼanya kwa nguvu.
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.
3 Huwanyangʼanya yatima punda wao, na kumchukua rehani fahali wa mjane.
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge.
4 Humsukuma mhitaji kutoka njia, na kuwafanya maskini wote wa nchi kulazimika kujificha.
They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.
5 Kama punda-mwitu jangwani, maskini huzunguka katika kazi zao za kutafuta chakula; mahali palipo jangwa huwapa chakula cha watoto wao.
Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.
6 Hukusanya chakula mashambani na kuokota masazo katika mashamba ya mizabibu ya waovu.
They gather fodder in the fields and glean the vineyards of the wicked.
7 Kwa kukosa nguo, usiku kucha hukaa uchi; hawana chochote cha kujifunika baridi.
Without clothing, they spend the night naked; they have no covering against the cold.
8 Hutota kwa mvua za mlimani, nao huikumbatia miamba kwa ajili ya kukosa pa kujisitiri.
Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.
9 Mtoto yatima hupokonywa matitini; mtoto wachanga wa maskini hunyakuliwa kwa ajili ya deni.
The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.
10 Kwa kukosa nguo, hutembea uchi; hubeba miganda ya ngano, lakini huwa na njaa.
Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
11 Hukamua zeituni katika mawe ya kusagia; hukanyaga mashinikizo, lakini wanaona kiu.
They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
12 Kilio cha huzuni cha wanaokufa kinapaa kutoka mjini, nazo nafsi za waliojeruhiwa zinalilia msaada. Lakini Mungu hamlaumu mtu yeyote kwa kutenda mabaya.
From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.
13 “Wako wale wanaoiasi nuru, wasiofahamu njia zake wala hawakai katika mapito yake.
Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
14 Wakati mwanga wa mchana unapotoweka, muuaji huinuka naye huwaua maskini na mhitaji; wakati wa usiku hunyemelea kama mwizi.
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief.
15 Jicho la mzinzi hungojea wakati wa giza, naye hufikiri, ‘Hakuna jicho litakaloniona,’ naye huuficha uso wake.
The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.
16 Katika giza, huvunja majumba, lakini wakati wa mchana hujifungia ndani; hawataki kufanya lolote nuruni.
In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.
17 Kwa wote hawa, giza nene ndiyo asubuhi yao; hujifanya rafiki na vitisho vya gizani.
For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
18 “Lakini wao ni povu juu ya maji; sehemu yao juu ya nchi imelaaniwa, hivyo hakuna hata mmoja aendaye kwenye shamba la mizabibu.
They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.
19 Kama vile joto na hari vinyakuavyo theluji iliyoyeyuka, ndivyo kuzimu kuwanyakuavyo waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol h7585)
As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Tumbo lililowazaa huwasahau, nao huwa karamu ya mabuu; watu waovu hawakumbukwi tena, lakini huvunjika kama mti.
The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree.
21 Huwafanya mawindo wanawake tasa na wasio na watoto, nao hawaonyeshi huruma kwa wajane.
They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.
22 Lakini Mungu huwakokota wenye nguvu kwa uwezo wake; ingawa wamestawi, hawana hakika ya maisha.
Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.
23 Aweza akawaacha wakapumzika wakijihisi salama, lakini macho yake yanaona njia zao.
He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.
24 Kwa kitambo kidogo hutukuka, hatimaye hutoweka; hushushwa na kukusanywa kama wengine wote, hukatwa kama masuke ya nafaka.
They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.
25 “Kama hili sivyo, ni nani awezaye kunithibitisha kuwa mwongo, na kuyafanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”
