Ayubu 22
1 Kisha Elifazi Mtemani akajibu na kusema,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
2 Je mtu anaweza kumfaa Mungu “Je mwenye hekima anaweza kufaa kwake.
“How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
3 Je inafurahisha kwa Mwenyezi ikiwa u mwenye haki? Je ni faida yake ukiyafanya safi maisha yako?
Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
4 Je ni kwa sababu ya uchaji wako kwake hata akukemee na kukuadhibu?
Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
5 Je si kwa sababu ya wingi wa uovu wako? Je hakuna mwisho wa makosa yako?
No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
6 Kwa maana umechukua dhamana kutoka kwa ndugu yako bila sababu; umechukua mavazi ya mtu na kumwacha uchi.
For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
7 Haukuwapa wenye kiu maji ya kunywea; umewanyima chakula wenye njaa
You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
8 japokuwa wewe, mwenye uwezo, uliimiliki nchi, japokuwa wewe, mwenye kuheshimiwa, uliishi ndani yake.
Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
9 Umewaacha wajane waondoke bila kitu; umewatesa yatima.
You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
10 Kwa hiyo, mabaya yanakuzunguka, na hofu za ghafla zinakusumbua.
That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
11 Kuna giza, hata usione; gharika inakufunika.
That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
12 Je Mungu hayupo juu mbinguni? Anaangalia juu ya nyota, jinsi zilivyo juu!
Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
13 Unasema, 'Mungu anajua nini? Je anaweza kuamua kupitia giza totoro?
But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
14 Mawingu ni kifuniko chake, hata asituone; anatembea anga la mbinguni.'
Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
15 Je utayaishi maisha ya zamani walioishi waovu -
Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
16 walioondolewa kabla ya siku zao, ambao misingi yao imeondolewa kama mto,
They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
17 waliomwambia Mungu, 'Ondoka kwetu'; waliosema, 'Mwenyezi anaweza kututenda nini?
They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Hata hivyo bado alizijaza nyumba zao kwa mema; mipango ya waovu iko mbali nami.
And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
19 Wenye haki wanayaona yawapatayo waovu na kufurahi; wasio na hatia wanawacheka kwa dhihaka.
Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
20 Wanasema, 'Bila shaka walioinuka kinyume chetu wameondolewa; moto umeteketeza mali zao.'
saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
21 Basi patana na Mungu na uwe na amani naye; kwa njia hiyo, mema yatakujia.
Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
22 Nakusihi, pokea, maelekezo yake; uyatii maneno yake.
Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
23 Ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utajengwa, ukiacha kutenda uovu makaoni mwako.
If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
24 Weka hazina zako mavumbini, dhahabu ya Ofiri kati ya mawe ya vijito,
and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
25 na Mwenyezi atakuwa hazina zako, fedha ya thamani kwako.
then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
26 Nawe utajifurahisha katika Mwenyezi; utamwangalia Mungu.
Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
27 Utamwomba, naye atakusikiliza; utamtolea nadhiri.
You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will keep your promises to him.
28 Lakini pia utatamka lolote, nawe utapewa; nuru itaangaza maishani mwako.
Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
29 Mungu humshusha mwenye kiburi, naye humwinua mnyenyekevu.
When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
30 Atamwokoa asiye na hatia; utaokolewa kupitia usafi wa mikono yako.”
God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
