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 doesn't the Almighty set a definite time to punish the wicked? Why don't those who follow him never see him act in judgment?
2 Kuna waovu waondoao alama za mipaka; kuna waovu walichukua kundi kwa nguvu na kulifanya lao.
The wicked move boundary stones; they seize other people's flocks and move them to their own pastures.
3 Wanawadhurumu wanyonge punda wao; wanachukua ng'ombe wa mjane kuwa dhamana.
They steal the orphan's donkey; they take the widow's ox as security for a debt.
4 Wanawaondoa wahitaji katika njia zao kwa lazima; masikini wa dunia yote wanajificha kutoka kwao.
They push the poor out of their way; the destitute are forced to hide from them.
5 Tazama, masikini hawa huenda kufanya kazi kama punda-mwitu mwituni, akitafuta chakula kwa uangalifu; pengine Araba itawapatia chakula kwa ajili ya watoto wao.
Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor have to scavenge for their food, looking for anything to feed their children in the wasteland.
6 Masikini huvuna katika mashamba ya wengine usiku; wanakusanya zabibu kidogo kutokana na mapato ya waovu.
They are forced to find what they can in other people's fields, to glean among the vineyards of the wicked.
7 Wana lala bila kujifunika wakati wa usiku; hawana cha kujifunika wakati wa baridi.
They spend the night naked because they have no clothes; they have nothing to cover themselves against the cold.
8 Wanalowanishwa na mvua ya milimani; wanalala pembeni mwa miamba mikubwa kwani hawana makao.
They are soaked by the cold mountain storms, and huddle beside the rocks for shelter.
9 Kuna waovu wanaowapokonya yatima katika kifua cha mama zao, na waovu wawachukuao watoto kama dhamana kutoka kwa masikini.
Fatherless children are snatched from their mother's breasts, taking the babies of the poor as security for a debt.
10 Lakini masikini wanatembea uchi; wajapokaa na njaa, wanabebea wengine chakula.
Because they have no clothes to wear they have to go naked, harvesting sheaves of grain while they themselves are hungry.
11 Masikini wanazalisha vinono ndani ya nyumba za waovu; wanakanyaga mashinikizo ya waovu, lakini wanakiu.
In the olive groves they work to produce oil, but do not taste it; they tread the winepress, but are thirsty.
12 Watu wananung'unika mjini; waliojeruhiwa wanaomboleza, lakini Mungu hasikilizi maombi yao.
In the city the dying groan, and the wounded cry for help, but God ignores their prayers.
13 Baadhi ya waovu hawa wanaiasi nuru; hawafahamu njia zake, wala kukaa katika njia zake.
These are people who rebel against the light. They do not want to know its ways, or to stay on its paths.
14 Muaji huinuka na nuru; huuwa masikini na waitaji; ni kama mwizi wakati wa usiku.
The murderer gets up at dawn to kill the poor and needy, and when night falls he becomes a thief.
15 Pia, mzinifu hungoja wakati wa usiku; husema, 'Hakuna anionaye.' Hujibadilisha.
The adulterer waits for dusk, saying to himself, ‘No one will see me now,’ and he covers his face.
16 Waovu huingia katika nyumba gizani, lakini hujifungia wakati wa mchana; hawajari nuru.
Thieves break into houses during the night and they sleep during the day. They don't even know what the light is like!
17 Kwa kuwa asubuhi kwao wote ni kama giza totoro; wanaamani na vitisho vya giza totoro.
Total darkness is like light to them, for they are familiar with the night.
18 Wanapotea polepole, lakini, kama povu juu ya maji; shamba lao limelaaniwa; hakuna anayekwenda kufanya kazi katika mashamba yao ya mizabibu.
Like bubbles on the surface of a river they are quickly carried away. The land they own is cursed by God. They don't enter their own vineyards.
19 Kiangazi na joto huondoa barafu; ndivyo kuzimu pia kunavyowaaribu waliotenda dhambi. (Sheol h7585)
Just as heat and drought dry up snowmelt, so Sheol takes away those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Mama yake atamsahau; polepole funza watamuuma; hatakumbukwa tena; kwa hiyo, waovu watavunjika kama mti.
Even their mothers forget them, maggots feast on them, they are no longer remembered, and their wickedness becomes like a tree that is broken into pieces.
21 Mwovu anamrarua mgumba; hawatendi jema lolote kwa mjane.
They mistreat childless women and are mean to widows.
22 Bado Mungu huwaondoa wenye nguvu kwa nguvu zake; huinuka na kuwadhoofisha.
God prolongs the life of the wicked by his power; but when they arise, they have no assurance of life.
23 Mungu huwaacha wajione wako salama, na wanalifurahia hilo, lakini anayaangalia maisha yao.
He supports them and gives them security, but he is always watching what they're doing.
24 Watu hawa wanatukuzwa; bado, kitambo tu, watapotea; hakika, watashushwa; watakusanywa kama wengine wote; wataondolewa kama sehemu ya juu ya masikio ya nafaka.
Though they may be illustrious for a while, soon they are gone. They are brought down like all others, cut off like the heads of grain.
25 Ikiwa sivyo, nani atanithibitisha kuwa mwongo; atakaye fanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?”
If this isn't so, who can prove I'm a liar and there's nothing to what I say?”
