Ayubu 14
1 Mwanadamu, ambaye amezaliwa na mwanamke, huishi siku chache tu na amejaa mahangaiko.
Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Yeye huchanua kutoka katika ardhi kama ua na kukatwa chini; yeye hukimbia kama kivuli na hawezi kudumu.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Je, wewe unatazama chochote katika hivi? Mnanileta mimi hukumuni pamoja nanyi?
Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Ni nani anayeweza kukileta kitu safi kutoka katika kitu kichafu? Hakuna awaye yote.
Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
5 Siku za mwanadamu zimeamriwa. Idadi ya miezi yake unayo wewe; umekiweka kikomo chake ambacho hawezi kukivuka.
If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
6 Tazama mbali kutoka kwake kwamba yeye aweze kupumzika, ili kwamba aweze kufurahia siku yake kama mtu aliyekodishwa kama yeye anaweza kufanya hivyo.
Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7 Kunaweza kuwa na tumaini kwa mti; kama ukikatwa chini, unaweza kuchipua tena, hivyo chipukizi lake halitapotea.
For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
8 Japokuwa mizizi yake inakua na kuzeeka katika ardhi, na shina lake kufa katika udongo,
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
9 hata kama bado lina harufu ya maji pekee, litachipua tena na kutoa nje matawi kama mche.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
10 Lakini mwanadamu hufa; yeye huwa dhaifu; haswaa, mwanadamu hukoma kupumua, na tena yuko wapi yeye?
But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
11 Kama maji yanavyopotea kutoka ziwani, na kama vile mto upotezavyo maji na kukauka,
The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
12 vivyo hivyo watu hulala chini na hawaamki tena. Mpaka pale mbingu zitakapokuwa hazipo tena, hawataamka wala kuamshwa kutoka katika kulala kwao.
So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
13 Laiti, kwamba ungenificha mimi mbali katika kuzimu mbali kutoka katika mahangaiko, na kwamba ungenitunza mimi katika siri hadi hasira yake imalizike, kwamba ungeniwekea mimi muda maalumu wa kukaa huko na kisha kuniita mimi katika fahamu! (Sheol h7585)
Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, — (Sheol h7585)
14 Ikiwa mwanadamu akifa, yeye ataishi tena? Ikiwa hivyo, ningependa kusubiri kule muda wangu wote wa kuharibika mpaka kufunguliwa kwangu kutakapokuja.
(If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
15 Wewe ungeita, na mimi ningekujibu wewe. Wewe ungekuwa na shauku ya kazi ya mikono yako.
Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
16 Wewe ungehesabu na kutunza nyayo zangu; Wewe usingejali kumbukumbu ya dhambi yangu.
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 Uovu wangu ungetiwa muhuri katika mkoba; wewe ungeufunga uovu wangu.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18 Lakini hata milima huanguka na kuwa si chochote; hata miamba huhamishwa kutoka mahali pake;
And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19 maji yaliyokuwa chini ya mawe; kufurika kwake huondoa mbali mavumbi ya nchi. Kama hivi, ninyi mnavyoharibu matumaini ya mwanadamu.
The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Ninyi daima humshinda yeye, na yeye hupita mbali; Ninyi mnabadilisha uso wake na kumtuma yeye mbali kufa.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
21 Kama watoto wake wa kiume ni wa kuheshimiwa, yeye, hatambui hicho; na kama wakishushwa chini, yeye haoni hicho.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
22 Yeye hujisikia tu maumivu ya mwili wake mwenyewe, na hujiombolezea yeye mwenyewe.
But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
