Ayubu 30
1 “Lakini sasa watu wadogo kwa umri kuniliko wananidhihaki, watu ambao baba zao ningekataa kwa dharau kuwaweka pamoja na mbwa wangu wa kulinda kondoo.
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Nguvu za mikono yao zingekuwa na faida gani kwangu, kwa kuwa nguvu zao zilikuwa zimewaishia?
Yea, whereto [should] the strength of their hands [profit] me, [men] in whom vigour hath perished?
3 Wakiwa wamekonda kutokana na kupungukiwa na kwa njaa, walizurura usiku katika nchi kame iliyo ukiwa.
Withered up through want and hunger, they flee into waste places long since desolate and desert:
4 Katika vichaka walikusanya mimea ya chumvi, nacho chakula chao kilikuwa mizizi ya mti wa mfagio.
They gather the salt-wort among the bushes, and the roots of the broom for their food.
5 Walifukuzwa mbali na watu wao, wakipigiwa kelele kama wevi.
They are driven forth from among [men] — they cry after them as after a thief —
6 Walilazimika kuishi katika mikondo ya vijito vilivyokauka, kwenye majabali na mahandaki.
To dwell in gloomy gorges, in caves of the earth and the rocks:
7 Kwenye vichaka walilia kama punda, na walijisongasonga pamoja kwenye vichaka.
They bray among the bushes; under the brambles they are gathered together:
8 Wao ni watoto wa wapumbavu wenye asili ya ubaya, waliofukuzwa watoke katika nchi.
Sons of fools, and sons of nameless sires, they are driven out of the land.
9 “Nao sasa wana wao wananidhihaki katika nyimbo; nimekuwa kitu cha dhihaka kwao.
And now I am their song, yea, I am their byword.
10 Wananichukia sana na kujitenga nami, wala hawasiti kunitemea mate usoni.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, yea, they spare not to spit in my face.
11 Sasa kwa kuwa Mungu ameilegeza kamba ya upinde wangu na kunitesa, wamekuwa huru kunitendea waonavyo.
For he hath loosed my cord and afflicted me; so they cast off the bridle before me.
12 Kuume kwangu kundi linashambulia; wao huitegea miguu yangu tanzi, na kunizingira.
At [my] right hand rise the young brood; they push away my feet, and raise up against me their pernicious ways;
13 Huizuia njia yangu, nao hufanikiwa katika kuniletea maafa, nami sina yeyote wa kunisaidia.
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, without any to help them;
14 Wananijia kama watu wapitao katika ufa mpana; katikati ya magofu huja na kunishambulia.
They come in as through a wide breach: amid the confusion they roll themselves onward.
15 Vitisho vimenifunika; heshima yangu imetoweshwa kama kwa upepo, salama yangu imetoweka kama wingu.
Terrors are turned against me; they pursue mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away like a cloud.
16 “Sasa maisha yangu yamefikia mwisho; siku za mateso zimenikamata.
And now my soul is poured out in me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 Usiku mifupa yangu inachoma; maumivu yanayonitafuna hayatulii kamwe.
The night pierceth through my bones [and detacheth them] from me, and my gnawing pains take no rest:
18 Kwa uwezo wake mkuu Mungu huwa kwangu kama nguo; hushikamana nami kama ukosi wa vazi langu.
By their great force they have become my raiment; they bind me about as the collar of my coat.
19 Yeye amenitupa kwenye matope, nami nimekuwa kama mavumbi na majivu.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 “Ee Bwana, ninakulilia wewe lakini hunijibu; ninasimama, nawe unanitazama tu.
I cry unto thee, and thou answerest me not; I stand up, and thou lookest at me.
21 Wewe unanigeukia bila huruma; unanishambulia kwa nguvu za mkono wako.
Thou art changed to a cruel one to me; with the strength of thy hand thou pursuest me.
22 Unaninyakua na kunipeperusha kwa upepo; umenirusha huku na huko kwenye dhoruba kali.
Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to be borne away, and dissolvest my substance.
23 Ninajua utanileta mpaka kifoni, mahali ambapo wenye uhai wote wamewekewa.
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and into the house of assemblage for all living.
24 “Hakika hakuna yeyote amshambuliaye mhitaji, anapoomba msaada katika shida yake.
Indeed, no prayer [availeth] when he stretcheth out [his] hand: though they cry when he destroyeth.
25 Je, sikulia kwa ajili ya wale waliokuwa katika taabu? Je, nafsi yangu haikusononeka kwa ajili ya maskini?
Did not I weep for him whose days were hard? was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Lakini nilipotazamia mema, mabaya yalinijia; nilipotafuta nuru, ndipo giza lilipokuja.
For I expected good, and there came evil; and I waited for light, but there came darkness.
27 Kusukwasukwa ndani yangu kamwe hakutulii; siku za mateso zinanikabili.
My bowels well up, and rest not; days of affliction have confronted me.
28 Ninazunguka nikiwa nimeungua, lakini si kwa jua; ninasimama katika kusanyiko nikiomba msaada.
I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up, I cry in the congregation.
29 Nimekuwa ndugu wa mbweha, rafiki wa mabundi.
I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion of ostriches.
30 Ngozi yangu imekuwa nyeusi nayo inachunika; mifupa yangu inaungua kwa homa.
My skin is become black [and falleth] off me, and my bones are parched with heat.
31 Kinubi changu kimegeuka kuwa maombolezo, nayo filimbi yangu imekuwa sauti ya kilio.
My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of weepers.
