Ayubu 4
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
2 “Kama mtu akithubutu kuzungumza nawe, kutakukasirisha? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asiseme?
If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?
3 Fikiri jinsi ambavyo umewafundisha watu wengi, jinsi ambavyo umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa dhaifu.
Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:
4 Maneno yako yamewategemeza wale waliojikwaa; umeyatia nguvu magoti yaliyokuwa dhaifu.
Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:
5 Lakini sasa hii taabu imekujia wewe, nawe unashuka moyo; imekupiga wewe, nawe unafadhaika.
But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Je, kumcha Mungu kwako hakupaswi kuwa ndiyo matumaini yako na njia zako kutokuwa na lawama ndilo taraja lako?
Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?
7 “Fikiri sasa: Ni mtu yupi asiye na hatia ambaye aliwahi kuangamia? Ni wapi wanyofu waliwahi kuangamizwa?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?
8 Kwa jinsi ambavyo mimi nimechunguza, wale walimao ubaya na wale hupanda uovu, huvuna hayo hayo hayo.
On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,
9 Kwa pumzi ya Mungu huangamizwa; kwa mshindo wa hasira zake huangamia.
Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.
10 Simba anaweza kunguruma na kukoroma, lakini bado meno ya simba mkubwa huvunjika.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken:
11 Simba anaweza kuangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, nao wana wa simba jike hutawanyika.
The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.
12 “Neno lililetwa kwangu kwa siri, masikio yangu yakasikia mnongʼono wake.
Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.
13 Katikati ya ndoto za kutia wasiwasi wakati wa usiku, hapo usingizi mzito uwapatapo wanadamu,
In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,
14 hofu na kutetemeka kulinishika na kufanya mifupa yangu yote itetemeke.
Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:
15 Kuna roho aliyepita mbele ya uso wangu, nazo nywele za mwili wangu zikasimama.
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Yule roho akasimama, lakini sikuweza kutambua kilikuwa kitu gani. Umbo fulani lilisimama mbele ya macho yangu, kukawa na ukimya kisha nikasikia sauti:
There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:
17 ‘Je, binadamu aweza kuwa mwadilifu kuliko Mungu? Je, mtu aweza kuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Kama Mungu hawaamini watumishi wake, kama yeye huwalaumu malaika zake kwa kukosea,
Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:
19 ni mara ngapi zaidi wale waishio katika nyumba za udongo wa mfinyanzi, ambazo misingi yake ipo mavumbini, ambao wamepondwa kama nondo!
How much more shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth?
20 Kati ya mawio na machweo huvunjwa vipande vipande; bila yeyote kutambua, huangamia milele.
From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.
21 Je, kamba za hema yao hazikungʼolewa, hivyo hufa bila hekima?’
And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom.
