Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
Job again took up his parable, and said,
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
"Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
when his lamp shone on 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 ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
when Shaddai was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
The princes refrained from talking, and laid their 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 stuck to the roof of their mouth.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on 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 robe and a diadem.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
"Men listened to me, 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 did not speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.
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 as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
