Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
Job also added, taking up his parable, and said:
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Who will grant me, that I might be according to the months past, according to the days in which God kept me?
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
When his lamp shined over my head, and I walked by his light in 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 God was secretly in my tabernacle?
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When the Almighty was with me: and my servants round about me?
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When I washed my feet with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil?
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went out to the gate of the city, and in the street they prepared me a chair?
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 old men rose up and stood.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes ceased to speak, and laid the finger on their mouth.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The rulers held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to their throat.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
The ear that heard me blessed me, and the eye that saw me gave witness to me:
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
Because I had delivered the poor man that cried out; and the fatherless that had no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I comforted the heart of the widow.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I was clad with justice: and I clothed myself with my judgment, as with a robe and a diadem.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I was an eye to the blind, and a foot to the lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was the father of the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out most diligently.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
I broke the jaws of the wicked man, and out of his teeth I took away the prey.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
And I said: I shall die in my nest, and as a palm tree shall multiply my days.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root is opened beside the waters, and dew shall continue in my harvest.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
They that heard me, waited for my sentence, and being attentive held their peace at my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
To my words they durst add nothing, and my speech dropped upon them.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
They waited for me as for rain, and they opened their mouth as for a latter shower.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
If at any time I laughed on them, they believed not, and the light of my countenance fell not on earth.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
If I had a mind to go to them, I sat first, and when I sat as a king, with his army standing about him, yet I was a comforter of them that mourned.
