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, Job was his name; And this man was perfect and upright, and fearing God, and eschewing evil.
2 Alikuwa na wana saba na binti watatu,
And there were born unto 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 cattle consisted of seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and he had a very great store of servants: so that this man was greater than all the sons 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 used to go and prepare a feast in the house of every 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 happened, when the days of the feast were gone round, that Job sent and sanctified them, and he then rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of all of them; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and have renounced God in their heart. In this manner used Job to do all the time.
6 Siku moja wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujionyesha mbele za Bwana. Shetani naye akaja pamoja nao.
Now it happened on a certain day, when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, that the Accuser also came in the midst of them.
7 Bwana akamwambia Shetani, “Umetoka wapi?” Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Natoka kuzunguka pote duniani, nikitembea huku na huko humo.”
Then said the Lord unto the Accuser, Whence comest thou? And the Accuser answered the Lord, and said, From roaming over the earth, and from wandering through 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.”
Then said the Lord unto the Accuser, Hast thou directed thy attention toward my servant Job; for there is none like him on the earth, a man perfect and upright, who feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Shetani akamjibu Bwana, “Je, Ayubu anamcha Mungu bure?
Then answered the Accuser the Lord, and said, Is it for nought that Job feareth God?
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.
Behold, thou hast indeed placed a fence about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side: the work of his hands hast thou blessed, and his cattle are far spread out in the land.
11 Lakini nyoosha mkono wako na kupiga kila kitu alicho nacho, naye kwa hakika atakulaani mbele za uso wako.”
But stretch only forth thy hand and touch all that he hath, and [see] whether he will not renounce 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.
Then said the Lord unto the Accuser, Behold, all that is his be in thy power; only against himself shalt thou not stretch forth thy hand. The Accuser went thereupon away from the presence of the Lord.
13 Siku moja watoto wa Ayubu walipokuwa wakifanya karamu wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
And it happened on a certain day, when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their first-born brother,
14 akaja mjumbe kwa Ayubu na kusema, “Maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao,
That a messenger came unto Job, and said, The oxen were ploughing, and the she-asses were feeding beside them:
15 Waseba wakawashambulia na kuchukua mifugo. Kisha wakawaua watumishi kwa upanga, nami ndimi peke yangu niliyenusurika kukuletea habari!”
When the Sabeans made an incursion, and took them away, and the young men they slew with the edge of the sword; and I am escaped, none but myself alone, to tell it unto 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!”
This one was yet speaking, when another came, and said, A fire of God fell from heaven, and burnt among the sheep and the young men, and consumed them; and I am escaped, none but myself alone, to tell it unto 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.”
This one was yet speaking, when another came, and said, The Chaldeans posted themselves in three divisions, and made an inroad against the camels, and took them away, and the young men they slew with the edge of the sword; and I am escaped, none but myself alone, to tell it unto 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 this one was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in the house of their first-born brother:
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!”
When, behold, a violent wind came from the direction of the wilderness, and struck against the four corners of the house, so that it fell upon the young men, and they died; and I am escaped, none but myself alone, to tell it unto thee.
20 Ndipo Ayubu akasimama, akararua joho lake na kunyoa nywele zake. Kisha akaanguka chini katika kuabudu
Then arose Job, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and prostrated himself.
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: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; may the name of the Lord be blessed.
22 Katika mambo haya yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi kwa kumlaumu Mungu kwa kufanya ubaya.
With all this did Job not sin, and attributed no injustice to God.
