Ayubu 24
1 “Kwa nini Mwenyezi asiweke nyakati kwa ajili ya hukumu? Kwa nini wale wamjuao wazitafute siku kama hizo bila mafanikio?
Times are not hid from the Almighty: but they that know him, know not his days.
2 Watu husogeza mawe ya mpaka; huchunga makundi ya wanyama waliyonyangʼanya kwa nguvu.
Some have removed landmarks, have taken away flocks by force, and fed them.
3 Huwanyangʼanya yatima punda wao, na kumchukua rehani fahali wa mjane.
They have driven away the ass of the fatherless, and have taken away the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4 Humsukuma mhitaji kutoka njia, na kuwafanya maskini wote wa nchi kulazimika kujificha.
They have overturned the way of the poor, and have oppressed together the meek of the earth.
5 Kama punda-mwitu jangwani, maskini huzunguka katika kazi zao za kutafuta chakula; mahali palipo jangwa huwapa chakula cha watoto wao.
Others like wild asses in the desert go forth to their work: by watching for a prey they get bread for their children.
6 Hukusanya chakula mashambani na kuokota masazo katika mashamba ya mizabibu ya waovu.
They reap the field that is not their own, and gather the vintage of his vineyard whom by violence they have oppressed.
7 Kwa kukosa nguo, usiku kucha hukaa uchi; hawana chochote cha kujifunika baridi.
They send men away naked, taking away their clothes who have no covering in the cold:
8 Hutota kwa mvua za mlimani, nao huikumbatia miamba kwa ajili ya kukosa pa kujisitiri.
Who are wet, with the showers of the mountains, and having no covering embrace the stones.
9 Mtoto yatima hupokonywa matitini; mtoto wachanga wa maskini hunyakuliwa kwa ajili ya deni.
They have violently robbed the fatherless, and stripped the poor common people.
10 Kwa kukosa nguo, hutembea uchi; hubeba miganda ya ngano, lakini huwa na njaa.
From the naked and them that go without clothing, and from the hungry they have taken away the ears of corn.
11 Hukamua zeituni katika mawe ya kusagia; hukanyaga mashinikizo, lakini wanaona kiu.
They have taken their rest at noon among the stores of them, who after having trodden the winepresses suffer thirst.
12 Kilio cha huzuni cha wanaokufa kinapaa kutoka mjini, nazo nafsi za waliojeruhiwa zinalilia msaada. Lakini Mungu hamlaumu mtu yeyote kwa kutenda mabaya.
Out of the cities they have made men to groan, and the soul of the wounded hath cried out, and God doth not suffer it to pass unrevenged.
13 “Wako wale wanaoiasi nuru, wasiofahamu njia zake wala hawakai katika mapito yake.
They have been rebellious to the light, they have not known his ways, neither have they returned by his paths.
14 Wakati mwanga wa mchana unapotoweka, muuaji huinuka naye huwaua maskini na mhitaji; wakati wa usiku hunyemelea kama mwizi.
The murderer riseth at the very break of day, he killeth the needy, and the poor man: but in the night he will be as a thief.
15 Jicho la mzinzi hungojea wakati wa giza, naye hufikiri, ‘Hakuna jicho litakaloniona,’ naye huuficha uso wake.
The eye of the adulterer observeth darkness, saying: No eye shall see me: and he will cover his face.
16 Katika giza, huvunja majumba, lakini wakati wa mchana hujifungia ndani; hawataki kufanya lolote nuruni.
He diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light.
17 Kwa wote hawa, giza nene ndiyo asubuhi yao; hujifanya rafiki na vitisho vya gizani.
If the morning suddenly appear, it is to them the shadow of death: and they walk in darkness as if it were in light.
18 “Lakini wao ni povu juu ya maji; sehemu yao juu ya nchi imelaaniwa, hivyo hakuna hata mmoja aendaye kwenye shamba la mizabibu.
He is light upon the face of the water: cursed be his portion on the earth, let him not walk by the way of the vineyards.
19 Kama vile joto na hari vinyakuavyo theluji iliyoyeyuka, ndivyo kuzimu kuwanyakuavyo waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol h7585)
Let him pass from the snow waters to excessive heat, and his sin even to hell. (Sheol h7585)
20 Tumbo lililowazaa huwasahau, nao huwa karamu ya mabuu; watu waovu hawakumbukwi tena, lakini huvunjika kama mti.
Let mercy forget him: may worms be his sweetness: let him be remembered no more, but be broken in pieces as an unfruitful tree.
21 Huwafanya mawindo wanawake tasa na wasio na watoto, nao hawaonyeshi huruma kwa wajane.
For he hath fed the barren that beareth not, and to the widow he hath done no good.
22 Lakini Mungu huwakokota wenye nguvu kwa uwezo wake; ingawa wamestawi, hawana hakika ya maisha.
He hath pulled down the strong by his might: and when he standeth up, he shall not trust to his life.
23 Aweza akawaacha wakapumzika wakijihisi salama, lakini macho yake yanaona njia zao.
God hath given him place for penance, and he abuseth it unto pride: but his eyes are upon his ways.
24 Kwa kitambo kidogo hutukuka, hatimaye hutoweka; hushushwa na kukusanywa kama wengine wote, hukatwa kama masuke ya nafaka.
They are lifted up for a little while and shall not stand, and shall be brought down as all things, and shall be taken away, and as the tops of the ears of corn they shall be broken.
25 “Kama hili sivyo, ni nani awezaye kunithibitisha kuwa mwongo, na kuyafanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
And if it be not so, who can convince me that I have lied, and set my words before God?
