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 does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?
2 Kuna waovu waondoao alama za mipaka; kuna waovu walichukua kundi kwa nguvu na kulifanya lao.
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.
3 Wanawadhurumu wanyonge punda wao; wanachukua ng'ombe wa mjane kuwa dhamana.
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge.
4 Wanawaondoa wahitaji katika njia zao kwa lazima; masikini wa dunia yote wanajificha kutoka kwao.
They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.
5 Tazama, masikini hawa huenda kufanya kazi kama punda-mwitu mwituni, akitafuta chakula kwa uangalifu; pengine Araba itawapatia chakula kwa ajili ya watoto wao.
Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.
6 Masikini huvuna katika mashamba ya wengine usiku; wanakusanya zabibu kidogo kutokana na mapato ya waovu.
They gather fodder in the fields and glean the vineyards of the wicked.
7 Wana lala bila kujifunika wakati wa usiku; hawana cha kujifunika wakati wa baridi.
Without clothing, they spend the night naked; they have no covering against the cold.
8 Wanalowanishwa na mvua ya milimani; wanalala pembeni mwa miamba mikubwa kwani hawana makao.
Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.
9 Kuna waovu wanaowapokonya yatima katika kifua cha mama zao, na waovu wawachukuao watoto kama dhamana kutoka kwa masikini.
The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.
10 Lakini masikini wanatembea uchi; wajapokaa na njaa, wanabebea wengine chakula.
Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
11 Masikini wanazalisha vinono ndani ya nyumba za waovu; wanakanyaga mashinikizo ya waovu, lakini wanakiu.
They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
12 Watu wananung'unika mjini; waliojeruhiwa wanaomboleza, lakini Mungu hasikilizi maombi yao.
From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.
13 Baadhi ya waovu hawa wanaiasi nuru; hawafahamu njia zake, wala kukaa katika njia zake.
Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
14 Muaji huinuka na nuru; huuwa masikini na waitaji; ni kama mwizi wakati wa usiku.
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill 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 of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.
16 Waovu huingia katika nyumba gizani, lakini hujifungia wakati wa mchana; hawajari nuru.
In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.
17 Kwa kuwa asubuhi kwao wote ni kama giza totoro; wanaamani na vitisho vya giza totoro.
For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
18 Wanapotea polepole, lakini, kama povu juu ya maji; shamba lao limelaaniwa; hakuna anayekwenda kufanya kazi katika mashamba yao ya mizabibu.
They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.
19 Kiangazi na joto huondoa barafu; ndivyo kuzimu pia kunavyowaaribu waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol h7585)
As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Mama yake atamsahau; polepole funza watamuuma; hatakumbukwa tena; kwa hiyo, waovu watavunjika kama mti.
The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree.
21 Mwovu anamrarua mgumba; hawatendi jema lolote kwa mjane.
They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.
22 Bado Mungu huwaondoa wenye nguvu kwa nguvu zake; huinuka na kuwadhoofisha.
Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.
23 Mungu huwaacha wajione wako salama, na wanalifurahia hilo, lakini anayaangalia maisha yao.
He gives them a sense of security, but 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 for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.
25 Ikiwa sivyo, nani atanithibitisha kuwa mwongo; atakaye fanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”
