Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job continued his parable and said,
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
When his lamp shone over my head, [and] 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 I was in the days of my youth, when the secret counsel of God was over my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When the Almighty was yet with me, my young men round about me;
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
When my steps were bathed in milk, and the rock poured out beside me rivers of oil! ...
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went out to the gate by the city, when I prepared my seat on the broadway,
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
The young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged arose [and] stood up;
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth;
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me;
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was as a mantle and a turban.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame;
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was a father to the needy, and the cause which I knew not I searched out;
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
And I said, I shall 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 root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew will lie all night on my branch;
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow be renewed in my hand.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
Unto me they listened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel:
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
After my words they spoke not again, and my speech dropped upon them;
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
[If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and they troubled not the serenity of my countenance.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.
