Ayubu 21
1 Kisha Ayubu akajibu na kusema,
Then Job responded by saying:
2 “Sikilizeni hotuba yangu kwa makini, hii na iwe faraja yenu.
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
3 Nimeteswa, lakini pia nitasema; nikisha kusema, endeleeni kudhihaki.
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
4 Lakini kwangu mimi, malalamikio yangu ni kwa mtu? Kwa nini nisiwe mwenye subira?
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
5 Nitazameni na mshangae, nanyi wekeni mkono wenu midomoni mwenu.
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
6 Ninapoyafikiria mateso yangu, ninaumizwa, mwili wangu unaogopa.
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
7 Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wanazeeka, na kuwa na uwezo katika madaraka?
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
8 Wazao wao wanathibitishwa mbele zao, na uzao wao unaimarika machoni pao.
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Nyumba zao ziko salama mbali na hofu; wala fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
10 Dume lao la ng'ombe linazalisha; halishindwi kufanya hivyo; ng'ombe wao anazaa na hafishi ndama wake akiwa mchanga.
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
11 Wanawapeleka wadogo wao kama kundi la kondoo, na watoto wao hucheza.
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
12 Wanaimba kwa tari na vinubi na hufurahi kwa muziki na zomari.
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 Wanamwambia Mungu, 'Ondoka kwetu kwani hatutaki ufahamu wowote juu ya njia zako.
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
15 Mwenye enzi ni nani, hata tumwabudu? Tutafaidika na nini tukimwabudu? Tutapata faida gani ikiwa tutamwomba?
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
16 Tazama, je mafanikio yao hayamo katika mikono yao wenyewe? Sina cha kufanya na ushauri wa waovu.
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
17 Mara ngapi taa za waovu huzimwa, au kwamba majanga huja juu yao? Mara ngapi inatokea kwamba Mungu husambaza huzuni kwao kwa hasira?
How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
18 Ni mara ngapi inatokea kwamba wanakuwa kama mabua mbele ya upepo au kama makapi yanayopeperushwa na dhoruba?
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
19 Mnasema, 'Mungu huweka hatia ya mtu kwa watoto wake kuilipa.' Na alipe yeye mwenyewe, ili kwamba aweze kujua hatia yake mwenyewe.
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
20 Acha macho yake yaone uangamivu wake mwenyewe, na acha anywe gadhabu ya Mwenyezi.
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Kwani anaangaliaje familia yake mbele yake idadi ya miezi yake inapokwisha.
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
22 Je kuna mtu anaweza kumfundisha Mungu maarifa kwa kuwa yeye huwaukumu hata walio juu?
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
23 Mtu mmoja ufa katika nguvu zake kamili, akiwa na utulivu kabisa na kwa amani.
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
24 Mwili wake hauna uhitaji, na kiini cha mifupa yake ina unyevu na afya njema.
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Mtu mwingine ufa kwa uchungu wa nafsi, bila kujifurahisha kwa jambo lolote jema.
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
26 Wanazikwa kaburini wote kwa pamoja, funza wanawafunika wote.
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
27 Tazama, nayajua mawazo yenu, na jinsi mnavyotaka kunikosesha.
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
28 Kwa kuwa mwasema, 'Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya mwana wa mfalme? Liko wapi kao alipokaa mwovu?'
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
29 Je hamjawauliza wasafiri? Hamfahamu wanavyoweza kusema,
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
30 kwamba mwovu anaepushwa na siku ya shida, na kwamba anawekwa mbali na siku ya gadhabu?
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
31 Ni nani atakaye ituhumu siku ya mwovu mbele yake? Ni nani atakayemwadhibu kwa alichokifanya?
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Hata hivyo atapelekwa kaburini; watu wataliona kaburi lake.
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
33 Udongo wa bondeni utakuwa mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, hata kuwe na watu wengi mbele yake.
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
34 Ni jinsi gani basi mtanifariji bila kufikiri, kwa kuwa majibu yenu hayana lolote ila uongo?”
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
