Ayubu 24
1 Kwa nini nyakati za kuwahukumu waovu hazikuwekwa na Mwenyezi? Kwa nini siyo wale waliowaaminifu kwa Mungu huziona siku za hukumu zikija?
“Why are not times laid up by the Almighty? Why do not those who know him see his days?
2 Kuna waovu waondoao alama za mipaka; kuna waovu walichukua kundi kwa nguvu na kulifanya lao.
There are people who remove the landmarks. They violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 Wanawadhurumu wanyonge punda wao; wanachukua ng'ombe wa mjane kuwa dhamana.
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless, and they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.
4 Wanawaondoa wahitaji katika njia zao kwa lazima; masikini wa dunia yote wanajificha kutoka kwao.
They turn the needy out of the way. The poor of the earth all hide themselves.
5 Tazama, masikini hawa huenda kufanya kazi kama punda-mwitu mwituni, akitafuta chakula kwa uangalifu; pengine Araba itawapatia chakula kwa ajili ya watoto wao.
Behold, as wild donkeys in the desert, they go out to their work, seeking diligently for food. The wilderness yields them bread for their children.
6 Masikini huvuna katika mashamba ya wengine usiku; wanakusanya zabibu kidogo kutokana na mapato ya waovu.
They cut their food in the field. They glean the vineyard of the wicked.
7 Wana lala bila kujifunika wakati wa usiku; hawana cha kujifunika wakati wa baridi.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 Wanalowanishwa na mvua ya milimani; wanalala pembeni mwa miamba mikubwa kwani hawana makao.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for lack of a shelter.
9 Kuna waovu wanaowapokonya yatima katika kifua cha mama zao, na waovu wawachukuao watoto kama dhamana kutoka kwa masikini.
There are those who pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor,
10 Lakini masikini wanatembea uchi; wajapokaa na njaa, wanabebea wengine chakula.
so that they go around naked without clothing. Being hungry, they carry the sheaves.
11 Masikini wanazalisha vinono ndani ya nyumba za waovu; wanakanyaga mashinikizo ya waovu, lakini wanakiu.
They make oil within the walls of these men. They tread wine presses, and suffer thirst.
12 Watu wananung'unika mjini; waliojeruhiwa wanaomboleza, lakini Mungu hasikilizi maombi yao.
From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God does not regard the folly.
13 Baadhi ya waovu hawa wanaiasi nuru; hawafahamu njia zake, wala kukaa katika njia zake.
“These are of those who rebel against the light. They do not know its ways, nor stay in its paths.
14 Muaji huinuka na nuru; huuwa masikini na waitaji; ni kama mwizi wakati wa usiku.
The murderer rises with the light. He kills the poor and needy. In the night he is like a thief.
15 Pia, mzinifu hungoja wakati wa usiku; husema, 'Hakuna anionaye.' Hujibadilisha.
The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me.’ He disguises his face.
16 Waovu huingia katika nyumba gizani, lakini hujifungia wakati wa mchana; hawajari nuru.
In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They do not know the light.
17 Kwa kuwa asubuhi kwao wote ni kama giza totoro; wanaamani na vitisho vya giza totoro.
For the morning is to all of them like thick darkness, for they know the terrors of the thick darkness.
18 Wanapotea polepole, lakini, kama povu juu ya maji; shamba lao limelaaniwa; hakuna anayekwenda kufanya kazi katika mashamba yao ya mizabibu.
“They are foam on the surface of the waters. Their portion is cursed in the earth. They do not turn into the way of the vineyards.
19 Kiangazi na joto huondoa barafu; ndivyo kuzimu pia kunavyowaaribu waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does Sheol (Sheol h7585) those who have sinned.
20 Mama yake atamsahau; polepole funza watamuuma; hatakumbukwa tena; kwa hiyo, waovu watavunjika kama mti.
The womb will forget him. The worm will feed sweetly on him. He will be no more remembered. Unrighteousness will be broken as a tree.
21 Mwovu anamrarua mgumba; hawatendi jema lolote kwa mjane.
He devours the barren who do not bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.
22 Bado Mungu huwaondoa wenye nguvu kwa nguvu zake; huinuka na kuwadhoofisha.
Yet God preserves the mighty by his power. He rises up who has no assurance of life.
23 Mungu huwaacha wajione wako salama, na wanalifurahia hilo, lakini anayaangalia maisha yao.
God gives them security, and they rest in it. His eyes are on their ways.
24 Watu hawa wanatukuzwa; bado, kitambo tu, watapotea; hakika, watashushwa; watakusanywa kama wengine wote; wataondolewa kama sehemu ya juu ya masikio ya nafaka.
They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone. Yes, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, and are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.
25 Ikiwa sivyo, nani atanithibitisha kuwa mwongo; atakaye fanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
If it is not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”
