Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
When His lamp shined above 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 converse of God was upon my tent;
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
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 rose up and stood;
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes refrained talking, and laid their 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 the roof of their mouth.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
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 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 itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
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 of him that 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 prey out of his teeth.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
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 shall lie all night upon 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 shall be renewed in my hand.'
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
Unto me men gave ear, 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 the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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 as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
