Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk 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 abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
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 the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
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 wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
