Ayubu 31
1 “Nimefanya agano na macho yangu yasimtazame msichana kwa kumtamani.
A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
2 Kwa kuwa fungu la mwanadamu ni gani kutoka kwa Mungu juu, urithi wake kutoka kwa Mungu Mwenye Nguvu Aliye juu?
And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
3 Je, si uharibifu kwa watu waovu, maangamizi kwa wale watendao mabaya?
Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
4 Je, yeye hazioni njia zangu na kuihesabu kila hatua yangu?
Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
5 “Kama nimeishi katika uongo au mguu wangu umekimbilia udanganyifu,
[And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
6 Mungu na anipime katika mizani za uaminifu, naye atajua kwamba sina hatia:
Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
7 kama hatua zangu zimepotoka kutoka kwenye njia, kama moyo wangu umeongozwa na macho yangu, au kama mikono yangu imetiwa unajisi,
If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
8 basi wengine na wale nilichokipanda, nayo yale yote niliyootesha na yangʼolewe.
Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
9 “Kama moyo wangu umeshawishiwa na mwanamke, au kama nimevizia mlangoni mwa jirani yangu,
If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
10 basi mke wangu na asage nafaka ya mwanaume mwingine, nao wanaume wengine walale naye.
Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
11 Kwa kuwa hilo lingekuwa aibu, naam, dhambi ya kuhukumiwa.
For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;
12 Ni moto uwakao kwa Uharibifu; ungekuwa umengʼoa mavuno yangu.
For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
13 “Kama ningewanyima haki watumishi wangu wanaume au vijakazi wangu, walipokuwa na manungʼuniko dhidi yangu,
If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
14 nitafanya nini Mungu atakaponikabili? Nitamjibu nini nitakapoitwa kutoa hesabu?
What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
15 Je, yeye aliyeniumba tumboni mwa mama yangu, si ndiye aliwaumba? Je, si ni yeye huyo mmoja aliyetuumba sote ndani ya mama zetu?
Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?
16 “Ikiwa nimewanyima maskini haja zao, au kuyaacha macho ya wajane yadhoofike,
If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];
17 kama nimekula chakula changu mwenyewe, bila kuwashirikisha yatima;
Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
18 lakini tangu ujana wangu nimemlea yatima kama ambavyo baba angefanya, nami tangu kuzaliwa kwangu nimewaongoza wajane:
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )
19 kama nilimwona yeyote akiteseka kwa kukosa nguo, au mtu mhitaji asiye na mavazi
If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
20 ambaye wala moyo wake haukunibariki kwa kumpatia joto kwa mavazi ya manyoya ya kondoo zangu,
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 na kama nimeinua mkono wangu dhidi ya yatima, nikijua kuwa nina ushawishi mahakamani,
If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
22 basi mkono wangu na unyofoke toka begani mwangu, nao na uvunjike kutoka kiungio chake.
Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
23 Kwa kuwa niliogopa uharibifu kutoka kwa Mungu, nami kwa kuuogopa utukufu wake sikuweza kufanya mambo kama hayo.
For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
24 “Kama nimeweka tumaini langu kwenye dhahabu, au kuiambia dhahabu safi, ‘Wewe ndiwe salama yangu,’
If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
25 kama nimefurahia wingi wa utajiri wangu, ustawi ambao mikono yangu ilikuwa imepata,
If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 kama nimelitazama jua katika kungʼaa kwake au mwezi ukienda kwa fahari yake,
If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
27 hivyo moyo wangu kushawishiwa kwa siri, au kubusu mkono wangu kwa kuviheshimu,
And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
28 basi hiyo pia ingekuwa dhambi ya kuhukumiwa, kwa kuwa ningekuwa si mwaminifu kwa Mungu aishiye juu sana.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
29 “Kama nimeshangilia msiba wa adui yangu, au kutazama kwa furaha taabu iliyomjia,
If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —
30 lakini sikuruhusu kinywa changu kufanya dhambi kwa kuomba laana dhidi ya maisha yake;
But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —
31 kama watu wa nyumbani mwangu kamwe hawakusema, ‘Ni nani ambaye hajashibishwa na nyama ya Ayubu?’
If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —
32 Lakini hakuna mgeni aliyelala njiani, kwa maana mlango wangu ulikuwa wazi kwa msafiri;
In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
33 kama nimeifunika dhambi yangu kama wanadamu wengine wafanyavyo, kwa kuficha hatia yangu moyoni mwangu,
If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
34 kwa sababu ya kuogopa umati wa watu, na hivyo kuwa na hofu ya kudharauliwa na jamaa, nikanyamaza kimya nisitoke nje ya mlango:
Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of 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.
Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —
36 Hakika ningeyavaa begani mwangu, ningeyavaa kama taji.
Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
37 Ningempa hesabu ya kila hatua yangu, ningemwendea kama mwana wa mfalme.)
The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—
38 “Kama nchi yangu inalia dhidi yangu, na mifereji yake yote imelowana kwa machozi,
If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
39 kama nimekula mazao yake bila malipo, au kuvunja mioyo ya wapangaji wake,
If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
40 basi miiba na iote badala ya ngano, na magugu badala ya shayiri.” Mwisho wa maneno ya Ayubu.
Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
