< 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. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.
2 uovu. Wakazaliwa kwake watoto saba wa kiume na mabinti watatu.
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 possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children 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.
His sons went and held a feast in the house of each one on his birthday; 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.
It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, 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.” Job did so continually.
6 Kisha ilikuwa siku ambayo watoto wa Mungu walikwenda kujihudhurisha mbele za BWANA. Shetani pia akaenda pamoja nao.
Now on the day when God’s sons came to present themselves before the LORD, 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.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in 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.”
The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the earth, a blameless 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 the LORD, 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 not you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You 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 stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your 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.
The LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 Ilitokea siku moja, wana wake wa kiume na binti zake walipokuwa wakila na kunywa mvinyo nyumbani mwa ndugu yao mkubwa.
It fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14 Mjumbe akamfikia Ayubu na kusema, “Hao maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakichunga karibu nao.
that a messenger came 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 attacked, and took them away. Yes, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God has fallen from the sky, and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans made three bands, and swept down on the camels, and have taken them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 still speaking, there came also another, and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest 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 struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young men, and they are dead. I alone have escaped to tell you.”
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 on 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.”
He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the LORD’s name.”
22 Katika mambo hayo yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi, wala hakumwazia Mungu kwa uovu.
In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.