Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk 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 abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, 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 the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
