Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: —
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
Who doth make 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 upon my tent.
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Round about 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 rivulets 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.
Seen me have youths, and they, 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 a hand they place on their mouth.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth [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 hath no helper.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame [am] I.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
A father I [am] 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, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
My honour [is] fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
I laugh unto them — they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not 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 head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
