Ayubu 31
1 “Nimefanya agano na macho yangu yasimtazame msichana kwa kumtamani.
I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.
2 Kwa kuwa fungu la mwanadamu ni gani kutoka kwa Mungu juu, urithi wake kutoka kwa Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Aliye juu?
For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?
3 Je, si uharibifu kwa watu waovu, maangamizi kwa wale watendao mabaya?
Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?
4 Je, yeye hazioni njia zangu na kuihesabu kila hatua yangu?
Does he not examine my ways and number all my steps?
5 “Kama nimeishi katika uongo au mguu wangu umekimbilia udanganyifu,
If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,
6 Mungu na anipime katika mizani za uaminifu, naye atajua kwamba sina hatia:
let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 kama hatua zangu zimepotoka kutoka kwenye njia, kama moyo wangu umeongozwa na macho yangu, au kama mikono yangu imetiwa unajisi,
If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,
8 basi wengine na wale nilichokipanda, nayo yale yote niliyootesha na yangʼolewe.
then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.
9 “Kama moyo wangu umeshawishiwa na mwanamke, au kama nimevizia mlangoni mwa jirani yangu,
If my heart has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,
10 basi mke wangu na asage nafaka ya mwanaume mwingine, nao wanaume wengine walale naye.
then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.
11 Kwa kuwa hilo lingekuwa aibu, naam, dhambi ya kuhukumiwa.
For this is a crime and a very great injustice.
12 Ni moto uwakao kwa Uharibifu; ungekuwa umengʼoa mavuno yangu.
It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.
13 “Kama ningewanyima haki watumishi wangu wanaume au vijakazi wangu, walipokuwa na manungʼuniko dhidi yangu,
If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,
14 nitafanya nini Mungu atakaponikabili? Nitamjibu nini nitakapoitwa kutoa hesabu?
then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?
15 Je, yeye aliyeniumba tumboni mwa mama yangu, si ndiye aliwaumba? Je, si ni yeye huyo mmoja aliyetuumba sote ndani ya mama zetu?
Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 “Ikiwa nimewanyima maskini haja zao, au kuyaacha macho ya wajane yadhoofike,
If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;
17 kama nimekula chakula changu mwenyewe, bila kuwashirikisha yatima;
if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;
18 lakini tangu ujana wangu nimemlea yatima kama ambavyo baba angefanya, nami tangu kuzaliwa kwangu nimewaongoza wajane:
(for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb; )
19 kama nilimwona yeyote akiteseka kwa kukosa nguo, au mtu mhitaji asiye na mavazi
if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,
20 ambaye wala moyo wake haukunibariki kwa kumpatia joto kwa mavazi ya manyoya ya kondoo zangu,
if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 na kama nimeinua mkono wangu dhidi ya yatima, nikijua kuwa nina ushawishi mahakamani,
if I have lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I have the advantage over him at the gate;
22 basi mkono wangu na unyofoke toka begani mwangu, nao na uvunjike kutoka kiungio chake.
then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.
23 Kwa kuwa niliogopa uharibifu kutoka kwa Mungu, nami kwa kuuogopa utukufu wake sikuweza kufanya mambo kama hayo.
For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.
24 “Kama nimeweka tumaini langu kwenye dhahabu, au kuiambia dhahabu safi, ‘Wewe ndiwe salama yangu,’
If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’
25 kama nimefurahia wingi wa utajiri wangu, ustawi ambao mikono yangu ilikuwa imepata,
if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;
26 kama nimelitazama jua katika kungʼaa kwake au mwezi ukienda kwa fahari yake,
if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,
27 hivyo moyo wangu kushawishiwa kwa siri, au kubusu mkono wangu kwa kuviheshimu,
so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,
28 basi hiyo pia ingekuwa dhambi ya kuhukumiwa, kwa kuwa ningekuwa si mwaminifu kwa Mungu aishiye juu sana.
which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;
29 “Kama nimeshangilia msiba wa adui yangu, au kutazama kwa furaha taabu iliyomjia,
if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,
30 lakini sikuruhusu kinywa changu kufanya dhambi kwa kuomba laana dhidi ya maisha yake;
for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul;
31 kama watu wa nyumbani mwangu kamwe hawakusema, ‘Ni nani ambaye hajashibishwa na nyama ya Ayubu?’
if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”
32 Lakini hakuna mgeni aliyelala njiani, kwa maana mlango wangu ulikuwa wazi kwa msafiri;
for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;
33 kama nimeifunika dhambi yangu kama wanadamu wengine wafanyavyo, kwa kuficha hatia yangu moyoni mwangu,
if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom;
34 kwa sababu ya kuogopa umati wa watu, na hivyo kuwa na hofu ya kudharauliwa na jamaa, nikanyamaza kimya nisitoke nje ya mlango:
if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out the door;
35 (“Laiti kama angekuwepo mtu wa kunisikia! Tazama sasa ninatia sahihi kwenye utetezi wangu: Mwenyezi na anijibu; mshtaki wangu na aweke mashtaka yake kwenye maandishi.
then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,
36 Hakika ningeyavaa begani mwangu, ningeyavaa kama taji.
which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?
37 Ningempa hesabu ya kila hatua yangu, ningemwendea kama mwana wa mfalme.)
With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.
38 “Kama nchi yangu inalia dhidi yangu, na mifereji yake yote imelowana kwa machozi,
So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,
39 kama nimekula mazao yake bila malipo, au kuvunja mioyo ya wapangaji wake,
if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,
40 basi miiba na iote badala ya ngano, na magugu badala ya shayiri.” Mwisho wa maneno ya Ayubu.
then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)
