Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job continued his discourse:
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
