Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
“Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
4 Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
The blessing of the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
I choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
