Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job continued and said in his parable,
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
4 Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
[As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I broke the jaw-teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm-tree; I shall live a long while.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
[My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
[Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
