Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job continued and said in his parable,
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
4 Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
[As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgement like a mantle.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
[My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
[Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
