Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: —
2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
Who doth make 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 upon my tent.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Round about 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 rivulets 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;
Seen me have youths, and they, 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 a hand they place on their mouth.
10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth [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 hath no helper.
13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame [am] I.
16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
A father I [am] 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, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
My honour [is] fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
To me they have hearkened, Yea, 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 change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain.
24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
I laugh unto them — they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not 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 head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
