Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job continued his parable and said,
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
When his lamp shone over my head, [and] 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 I was in the days of my youth, when the secret counsel of God was over my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When the Almighty was yet with me, my young men round about me;
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When my steps were bathed in milk, and the rock poured out beside me rivers of oil! ...
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went out to the gate by the city, when I prepared my seat on the broadway,
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 the aged arose [and] stood up;
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
Princes refrained from talking, and laid the hand on their mouth;
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me, and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me;
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
For I delivered the afflicted that cried, and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The blessing of him that was perishing came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was as a mantle and a turban.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame;
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was a father to the needy, and the cause which I knew not I searched out;
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
And I said, I shall 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 root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew will lie all night on my branch;
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow be renewed in my hand.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
Unto me they listened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel:
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my words they spoke not again, and my speech dropped upon them;
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
[If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and they troubled not the serenity of my countenance.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.
