< Ayubu 1 >
1 Katika nchi ya Usi paliishi mtu ambaye aliitwa Ayubu. Mtu huyu alikuwa hana hatia, naye alikuwa mkamilifu; alimcha Mungu na kuepukana na uovu.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and this man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and abstained from evil.
2 Alikuwa na wana saba na binti watatu,
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 naye alikuwa na kondoo elfu saba, ngamia elfu tatu, jozi mia tano za maksai, na punda mia tano, tena alikuwa na idadi kubwa ya watumishi. Alikuwa mtu mkuu sana miongoni mwa watu wa Mashariki.
And his substance was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and very many servants; and this man was greater than all the children of the east.
4 Wanawe walikuwa na desturi ya kufanya karamu katika nyumba zao kwa zamu, nao wangewaalika umbu zao watatu ili kula na kunywa pamoja nao.
And his sons went and made a feast in the house of each one on his day; and they sent and invited their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 Wakati kipindi cha karamu kilimalizika, Ayubu angetuma waitwe na kuwafanyia utakaso. Angetoa dhabihu ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa kwa ajili ya kila mmoja wao asubuhi na mapema, akifikiri, “Pengine wanangu wametenda dhambi na kumlaani Mungu mioyoni mwao.” Hii ilikuwa ndiyo desturi ya kawaida ya Ayubu.
And it was so, when the days of the feasting were gone about, that Job sent and hallowed them; and he rose up early in the morning, and offered up burnt-offerings [according to] the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Siku moja wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujionyesha mbele za Bwana. Shetani naye akaja pamoja nao.
And there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah; and Satan came also among them.
7 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Umetoka wapi?” Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Natoka kuzunguka pote duniani, nikitembea huku na huko humo.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, Whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Je, umemwangalia huyo mtumishi wangu Ayubu? Hakuna mtu mwingine duniani aliye kama yeye, asiye na hatia, ni mnyofu, mwenye kumcha Mungu, na kuepukana na uovu.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and abstaineth from evil?
9 Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Je, Ayubu anamcha Mungu bure?
And Satan answered Jehovah and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Je, wewe hukumjengea boma pande zote yeye na wa nyumbani mwake pamoja na kila kitu alicho nacho? Kazi za mikono yake umezibariki na hivyo makundi yake ya kondoo na mbuzi pamoja na ya wanyama yameenea katika nchi nzima.
Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is spread abroad in the land.
11 Lakini nyoosha mkono wako na kupiga kila kitu alicho nacho, naye kwa hakika atakulaani mbele za uso wako.”
But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he hath, [and see] if he will not curse thee to thy face!
12 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Vema sana, kwa hiyo, kila kitu alicho nacho kiko mikononi mwako, lakini juu ya huyo mtu mwenyewe usimguse hata kwa kidole.” Ndipo Shetani akatoka mbele za Bwana.
And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy hand; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
13 Siku moja watoto wa Ayubu walipokuwa wakifanya karamu wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn.
14 akaja mjumbe kwa Ayubu na kusema, “Maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao,
And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them;
15 Waseba wakawashambulia na kuchukua mifugo. Kisha wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
and [they of] Sheba fell [upon them] and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
16 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Moto wa Mungu ulishuka kutoka mbinguni na kuteketeza kondoo na watumishi, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
17 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Wakaldayo waliunda vikosi vitatu vya uvamizi na kuwaangukia ngamia wako na kuwachukua wakaondoka nao. Wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari.”
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels and took them, and the servants have they smitten with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
18 Alipokuwa bado ananena, mjumbe mwingine akaja na kusema, “Wana wako na binti zako walipokuwa wakifanya karamu, wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;
19 ghafula upepo wenye nguvu ukavuma kutoka jangwani, nao ukaipiga nyumba hiyo pembe zake nne. Ikawaangukia hao watoto nao wamekufa, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
and behold, there came a great wind from over the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I only am escaped, alone, to tell thee.
20 Ndipo Ayubu akasimama, akararua joho lake na kunyoa nywele zake. Kisha akaanguka chini katika kuabudu
And Job rose up, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshipped;
21 na kusema: “Nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu uchi, nami nitaondoka uchi, Bwana alinipa, naye Bwana ameviondoa, jina la Bwana litukuzwe.”
and he said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah!
22 Katika mambo haya yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi kwa kumlaumu Mungu kwa kufanya ubaya.
In all this Job sinned not, nor ascribed anything unseemly to God.