Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] 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 days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
When I washed my steps 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 through 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 arose, [and] stood up.
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 nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him 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 judgment [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 poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil 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 [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
After my words they spoke 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 chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
