Ayubu 22
1 Kisha Elifazi Mtemani akajibu na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Je mtu anaweza kumfaa Mungu “Je mwenye hekima anaweza kufaa kwake.
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 Je inafurahisha kwa Mwenyezi ikiwa u mwenye haki? Je ni faida yake ukiyafanya safi maisha yako?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 Je ni kwa sababu ya uchaji wako kwake hata akukemee na kukuadhibu?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Je si kwa sababu ya wingi wa uovu wako? Je hakuna mwisho wa makosa yako?
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 Kwa maana umechukua dhamana kutoka kwa ndugu yako bila sababu; umechukua mavazi ya mtu na kumwacha uchi.
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 Haukuwapa wenye kiu maji ya kunywea; umewanyima chakula wenye njaa
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 japokuwa wewe, mwenye uwezo, uliimiliki nchi, japokuwa wewe, mwenye kuheshimiwa, uliishi ndani yake.
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 Umewaacha wajane waondoke bila kitu; umewatesa yatima.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Kwa hiyo, mabaya yanakuzunguka, na hofu za ghafla zinakusumbua.
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 Kuna giza, hata usione; gharika inakufunika.
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 Je Mungu hayupo juu mbinguni? Anaangalia juu ya nyota, jinsi zilivyo juu!
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Unasema, 'Mungu anajua nini? Je anaweza kuamua kupitia giza totoro?
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 Mawingu ni kifuniko chake, hata asituone; anatembea anga la mbinguni.'
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Je utayaishi maisha ya zamani walioishi waovu -
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 walioondolewa kabla ya siku zao, ambao misingi yao imeondolewa kama mto,
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 waliomwambia Mungu, 'Ondoka kwetu'; waliosema, 'Mwenyezi anaweza kututenda nini?
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Hata hivyo bado alizijaza nyumba zao kwa mema; mipango ya waovu iko mbali nami.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 Wenye haki wanayaona yawapatayo waovu na kufurahi; wasio na hatia wanawacheka kwa dhihaka.
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 Wanasema, 'Bila shaka walioinuka kinyume chetu wameondolewa; moto umeteketeza mali zao.'
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 Basi patana na Mungu na uwe na amani naye; kwa njia hiyo, mema yatakujia.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 Nakusihi, pokea, maelekezo yake; uyatii maneno yake.
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 Ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utajengwa, ukiacha kutenda uovu makaoni mwako.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 Weka hazina zako mavumbini, dhahabu ya Ofiri kati ya mawe ya vijito,
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 na Mwenyezi atakuwa hazina zako, fedha ya thamani kwako.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Nawe utajifurahisha katika Mwenyezi; utamwangalia Mungu.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 Utamwomba, naye atakusikiliza; utamtolea nadhiri.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 Lakini pia utatamka lolote, nawe utapewa; nuru itaangaza maishani mwako.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Mungu humshusha mwenye kiburi, naye humwinua mnyenyekevu.
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 Atamwokoa asiye na hatia; utaokolewa kupitia usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
