Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And 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 shined upon 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 secret of God was upon my tent;
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about 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 me out rivers of oil!
7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, 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, and the aged rose up and stood;
9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
The princes refrained 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 cleaved 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 gave witness unto me:
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, 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 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 was I to the lame.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
I was a father to the needy: and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I brake 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 nest, and I shall multiply 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, and the dew lieth all night upon my branch:
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
Unto me men gave ear, 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 spake 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 the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
