Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were around me;
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-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 arose and stood.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
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 poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who 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 heart of the widow to sing for joy.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
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 gathereth strength in my hand.”
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
