< Ayubu 1 >

1 Kulikuwa na mtu katika nchi ya Usi jina lake Ayubu; na Ayubu alikuwa mwenye haki na mkamilifu, mmoja aliyemcha Mungu na kuepukana na
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 uovu. Wakazaliwa kwake watoto saba wa kiume na mabinti watatu.
And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 Alimiliki kondoo elfu saba, ngamia elfu tatu, jozi mia moja za maksai, na punda mia tano na idadi kubwa ya watumishi. Mtu huyu alikuwa mtu mkuu wa watu wote wa mashariki.
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-donkeys, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the sons of the east.
4 Kwa siku yake kila mtoto wa kiume, hufanya karamu katika nyumba yake. Wakatuma na kuwaita dada zao watatu waje kula na kunywa pamoja nao.
And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day, and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 Baada ya siku za karamu zilipokuwa zimetimia, Ayubu hutuma kwao na kuwatakasa. Aliamka asubuhi na mapema na kutoa sadaka za kuteketezwa kwa kila mtoto wake, kwa kusema, “Yawezekana kwamba wanangu wamefanya dhambi na kumkufuru Mungu mioyoni mwao.” Siku zote Ayubu alifanya hivi.
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were completed, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus Job did continually.
6 Kisha ilikuwa siku ambayo watoto wa Mungu walikwenda kujihudhurisha mbele za BWANA. Shetani pia akaenda pamoja nao.
Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.
7 BWANA akamuuliza Shetani, “Umetoka wapi wewe?” Kisha Shetani akamjibu BWANA na kusema, “Natoka kuzunguka zunguka duniani, kutembea huku na huko humo.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, From where do thou come? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.
8 BWANA akamuuliza Shetani, “Je umemwangalia mtumishi wangu Ayubu? Kwa kuwa hakuna mmoja aliye kama yeye duniani, mtu mwenye haki na mkamilifu, mmoja aliyemcha Mungu na kuepukana na uovu.”
And Jehovah said to Satan, Have thou considered my servant Job? For there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
9 Kisha Shetani akamjibu BWANA na kusema, “Je Ayubu amcha Mungu bila sababu?
Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Wewe hukumwekea kinga pande zote, kuzunguka nyumba yake, na kuzunguka vitu vyote alivyo navyo kutoka kila upande? Wewe umebariki kazi za mikono yake, na mifugo yake imeongezeka katika nchi.
Have thou not made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has, on every side? Thou have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 Lakini sasa nyosha mkono wako na uguse yote hayo aliyonayo, na uone kama hatakufuru mbele ya uso wako.”
But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce thee to thy face.
12 BWANA akamwambia Shetani, “Tazama, hayo yote aliyonayo yamo mkononi mwako. Isipokuwa juu yake yeye mwenyewe usinyoshe mkono wako.” Kisha Shetani akatoka mbele za BWANA.
And Jehovah said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in thy power, only upon himself do not put forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.
13 Ilitokea siku moja, wana wake wa kiume na binti zake walipokuwa wakila na kunywa mvinyo nyumbani mwa ndugu yao mkubwa.
And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
14 Mjumbe akamfikia Ayubu na kusema, “Hao maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakichunga karibu nao.
that there came a messenger to Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15 Waseba wakawaangukia na kutoweka nao. Kwa wale watumishi, wamewaua kwa makali ya upanga. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.”
and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away. Yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
16 Wakati alipokuwa akiendelea kusema, akatokea mwingine pia na kusema, “Moto wa Mungu umeanguka toka mbinguni na kuwateketeza kondoo na watumishi. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God fell from heaven, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
17 Wakati alipokuwa akiendelea kusema, akatokea mwingine pia na kusema, “Wakaldayo walifanya vikundi vitatu, wakawashambulia ngamia, na kuondoka nao. Kwa wale watumishi, wamewaua kwa makali ya upanga. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.”
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
18 Wakati alipokuwa akiendelea kusema, akatokea mwingine pia na kusema, “Wana wako wa kiume na binti zako walikuwa wakila na kunywa mvinyo nyumbani mwa ndugu yao mkubwa.
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.
19 Upepo wenye nguvu ulitokea jangwani na ukapiga pembe nne za nyumba. Ikawaangukia vijana hao, na wakafa wote. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead, and only I alone have escaped to tell thee.
20 Kisha Ayubu akainuka, akalirarua joho lake, akanyoa kichwa chake, akaanguka chini kifudifudi na kumwabudu Mungu.
Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped.
21 Akasema, “Mimi nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu ni uchi, nami nitakuwa uchi wakati nitakaporudi huko. BWANA alitoa, na BWANA ametwaa. Jina la BWANA libarikiwe.”
And he said, Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away, blessed be the name of Jehovah.
22 Katika mambo hayo yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi, wala hakumwazia Mungu kwa uovu.
In all this Job did not sin, nor foolishly accuse God.

< Ayubu 1 >