Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job adds to lift up his allegory and says:
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
“Who makes me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God’s preserving me?
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
4 Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God on my tent.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Around me—my young ones,
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me—streams of oil.
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
Youths have seen me, and they have been hidden, And the aged have risen—they stood up.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
Princes have kept in words, And they place a hand on their mouth.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voice of leaders has been hidden, And their tongue has cleaved to the palate.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For the ear heard, and declares me blessed, And the eye has seen, and testifies [to] me.
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who has no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The blessing of the perishing comes on me, And I cause the heart of the widow to sing.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I have put on righteousness, and it clothes me, My justice as a robe and a crown.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I have been eyes to the blind, And I [am] feet to the lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I [am] a father to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
And I say, I expire with my nest, And I multiply days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root is open to the waters, And dew lodges on my branch.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory [is] fresh with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
They have listened to me, Indeed, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my word they do not change, And my speech drops on them,
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
And they wait for me as [for] rain, And they have opened wide their mouth [As] for the spring rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
I laugh at them—they give no credence, And do not cause the light of my face to fall.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I choose their way, and sit [as] head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When he comforts mourners.”
