Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
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 shone on 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in 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 my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes refrained from 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 stuck 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 commended me,
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on 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 me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
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 will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
“Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
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. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
