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 men who are younger than I am make fun of me— men whose fathers I greatly despised, with the result that I would not even have allowed them to help my dogs guard my sheep.
2 Nguvu za mikono yao zingekuwa na faida gani kwangu, kwa kuwa nguvu zao zilikuwa zimewaishia?
They were men who were old and (weak/worn out); so (what could I gain from them working for me?/I would have gained nothing from them working for me.) [RHQ]
3 Wakiwa wamekonda kutokana na kupungukiwa na kwa njaa, walizurura usiku katika nchi kame iliyo ukiwa.
They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.
4 Katika vichaka walikusanya mimea ya chumvi, nacho chakula chao kilikuwa mizizi ya mti wa mfagio.
They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.
5 Walifukuzwa mbali na watu wao, wakipigiwa kelele kama wevi.
Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].
6 Walilazimika kuishi katika mikondo ya vijito vilivyokauka, kwenye majabali na mahandaki.
They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.
7 Kwenye vichaka walilia kama punda, na walijisongasonga pamoja kwenye vichaka.
In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.
8 Wao ni watoto wa wapumbavu wenye asili ya ubaya, waliofukuzwa watoke katika nchi.
They were people without good sense, whose names no one knows; they have been expelled from the land [where they were born].
9 “Nao sasa wana wao wananidhihaki katika nyimbo; nimekuwa kitu cha dhihaka kwao.
“And now their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.
10 Wananichukia sana na kujitenga nami, wala hawasiti kunitemea mate usoni.
They are disgusted with me, and they [usually] stay away from me, [but when they see me, ] they are happy to spit in my face.
11 Sasa kwa kuwa Mungu ameilegeza kamba ya upinde wangu na kunitesa, wamekuwa huru kunitendea waonavyo.
Because [it is as though] [MET] God has cut my bowstring, [he has caused me to be unable to defend myself, ] and he has humbled me, and my enemies have done to me whatever they wanted.
12 Kuume kwangu kundi linashambulia; wao huitegea miguu yangu tanzi, na kunizingira.
(Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.
13 Huizuia njia yangu, nao hufanikiwa katika kuniletea maafa, nami sina yeyote wa kunisaidia.
They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).
14 Wananijia kama watu wapitao katika ufa mpana; katikati ya magofu huja na kunishambulia.
[It is as though I am a city wall and] [SIM] they have broken through the wall, and they have come crashing down on me.
15 Vitisho vimenifunika; heshima yangu imetoweshwa kama kwa upepo, salama yangu imetoweka kama wingu.
I am very terrified; My dignity/honor has been taken away as though [SIM] [it has been] blown away by the wind, and my prosperity has disappeared like [SIM] clouds disappear.
16 “Sasa maisha yangu yamefikia mwisho; siku za mateso zimenikamata.
“And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.
17 Usiku mifupa yangu inachoma; maumivu yanayonitafuna hayatulii kamwe.
My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.
18 Kwa uwezo wake mkuu Mungu huwa kwangu kama nguo; hushikamana nami kama ukosi wa vazi langu.
[It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.
19 Yeye amenitupa kwenye matope, nami nimekuwa kama mavumbi na majivu.
He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] dust and ashes.
20 “Ee Bwana, ninakulilia wewe lakini hunijibu; ninasimama, nawe unanitazama tu.
“I cry out to God, but he does not answer/help me; I stand up [and pray], but he does not pay any attention.
21 Wewe unanigeukia bila huruma; unanishambulia kwa nguvu za mkono wako.
He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.
22 Unaninyakua na kunipeperusha kwa upepo; umenirusha huku na huko kwenye dhoruba kali.
He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.
23 Ninajua utanileta mpaka kifoni, mahali ambapo wenye uhai wote wamewekewa.
I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.
24 “Hakika hakuna yeyote amshambuliaye mhitaji, anapoomba msaada katika shida yake.
“When people experience disasters, and they sit on a pile of ruins and cry out for help, others surely [RHQ] reach out their hand to help them.
25 Je, sikulia kwa ajili ya wale waliokuwa katika taabu? Je, nafsi yangu haikusononeka kwa ajili ya maskini?
[That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.
26 Lakini nilipotazamia mema, mabaya yalinijia; nilipotafuta nuru, ndipo giza lilipokuja.
But when I expected good things [to happen to me], evil things happened; when I waited for light/happiness, all I experienced was darkness/unhappiness [MET].
27 Kusukwasukwa ndani yangu kamwe hakutulii; siku za mateso zinanikabili.
I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.
28 Ninazunguka nikiwa nimeungua, lakini si kwa jua; ninasimama katika kusanyiko nikiomba msaada.
I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.
29 Nimekuwa ndugu wa mbweha, rafiki wa mabundi.
My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
30 Ngozi yangu imekuwa nyeusi nayo inachunika; mifupa yangu inaungua kwa homa.
My skin has become dark/black and is peeling off, and I have a fever [which causes my body to feel like it is] burning.
31 Kinubi changu kimegeuka kuwa maombolezo, nayo filimbi yangu imekuwa sauti ya kilio.
Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute, but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn.”
