Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
Job spoke again,
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
