< Ayubu 24 >
1 “Kwa nini Mwenyezi asiweke nyakati kwa ajili ya hukumu? Kwa nini wale wamjuao wazitafute siku kama hizo bila mafanikio?
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 Watu husogeza mawe ya mpaka; huchunga makundi ya wanyama waliyonyangʼanya kwa nguvu.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 Huwanyangʼanya yatima punda wao, na kumchukua rehani fahali wa mjane.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 Humsukuma mhitaji kutoka njia, na kuwafanya maskini wote wa nchi kulazimika kujificha.
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Kama punda-mwitu jangwani, maskini huzunguka katika kazi zao za kutafuta chakula; mahali palipo jangwa huwapa chakula cha watoto wao.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.
6 Hukusanya chakula mashambani na kuokota masazo katika mashamba ya mizabibu ya waovu.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 Kwa kukosa nguo, usiku kucha hukaa uchi; hawana chochote cha kujifunika baridi.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 Hutota kwa mvua za mlimani, nao huikumbatia miamba kwa ajili ya kukosa pa kujisitiri.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 Mtoto yatima hupokonywa matitini; mtoto wachanga wa maskini hunyakuliwa kwa ajili ya deni.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 Kwa kukosa nguo, hutembea uchi; hubeba miganda ya ngano, lakini huwa na njaa.
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 Hukamua zeituni katika mawe ya kusagia; hukanyaga mashinikizo, lakini wanaona kiu.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and 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.
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 “Wako wale wanaoiasi nuru, wasiofahamu njia zake wala hawakai katika mapito yake.
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 Wakati mwanga wa mchana unapotoweka, muuaji huinuka naye huwaua maskini na mhitaji; wakati wa usiku hunyemelea kama mwizi.
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15 Jicho la mzinzi hungojea wakati wa giza, naye hufikiri, ‘Hakuna jicho litakaloniona,’ naye huuficha uso wake.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
16 Katika giza, huvunja majumba, lakini wakati wa mchana hujifungia ndani; hawataki kufanya lolote nuruni.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
17 Kwa wote hawa, giza nene ndiyo asubuhi yao; hujifanya rafiki na vitisho vya gizani.
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
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 swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19 Kama vile joto na hari vinyakuavyo theluji iliyoyeyuka, ndivyo kuzimu kuwanyakuavyo waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol )
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol )
20 Tumbo lililowazaa huwasahau, nao huwa karamu ya mabuu; watu waovu hawakumbukwi tena, lakini huvunjika kama mti.
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
21 Huwafanya mawindo wanawake tasa na wasio na watoto, nao hawaonyeshi huruma kwa wajane.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 Lakini Mungu huwakokota wenye nguvu kwa uwezo wake; ingawa wamestawi, hawana hakika ya maisha.
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
23 Aweza akawaacha wakapumzika wakijihisi salama, lakini macho yake yanaona njia zao.
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon 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 little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.
25 “Kama hili sivyo, ni nani awezaye kunithibitisha kuwa mwongo, na kuyafanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?