Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job continued his discourse:
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
