Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in 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 God was secretly in my tabernacle?
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the old men rose up and stood.
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
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 as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.
