< 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
A man there hath been in the land of Uz — Job his name — and that man hath been perfect and upright — both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.
2 uovu. Wakazaliwa kwake watoto saba wa kiume na mabinti watatu.
And there are borne 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.
and his substance is seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred pairs of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a service very abundant; and that man is greater than any of 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 have gone and made a banquet — the house of each [in] his day — and have sent and called to 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 cometh to pass, when they have gone round the days of the banquet, that Job doth send and sanctify them, and hath risen early in the morning, and caused to ascend burnt-offerings — the number of them all — for Job said, 'Perhaps my sons have sinned, yet blessed God in their heart.' Thus doth Job all the days.
6 Kisha ilikuwa siku ambayo watoto wa Mungu walikwenda kujihudhurisha mbele za BWANA. Shetani pia akaenda pamoja nao.
And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst.
7 BWANA akamuuliza Shetani, “Umetoka wapi wewe?” Kisha Shetani akamjibu BWANA na kusema, “Natoka kuzunguka zunguka duniani, kutembea huku na huko humo.”
And Jehovah saith unto the Adversary, 'Whence comest thou?' And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'From going to and fro in the land, 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 saith unto the Adversary, 'Hast thou set thy heart against My servant Job because there is none like him in the land, a man perfect and upright, fearing God, and turning aside from evil?'
9 Kisha Shetani akamjibu BWANA na kusema, “Je Ayubu amcha Mungu bila sababu?
And the Adversary answereth Jehovah and saith, 'For nought is Job fearing God?
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.
Hast not Thou made a hedge for him, and for his house, and for all that he hath — round about?
11 Lakini sasa nyosha mkono wako na uguse yote hayo aliyonayo, na uone kama hatakufuru mbele ya uso wako.”
The work of his hands Thou hast blessed, and his substance hath spread in the land, and yet, put forth, I pray Thee, Thy hand, and strike against anything that he hath — if not: to Thy face he doth bless Thee!'
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 saith unto the Adversary, 'Lo, all that he hath [is] in thy hand, only unto him put not forth thy hand.' And the Adversary goeth out 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 the day is, that his sons and his daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.
14 Mjumbe akamfikia Ayubu na kusema, “Hao maksai walikuwa wakilima na punda walikuwa wakichunga karibu nao.
And a messenger hath come in unto Job and saith, 'The oxen have been plowing, and the she-asses feeding by their sides,
15 Waseba wakawaangukia na kutoweka nao. Kwa wale watumishi, wamewaua kwa makali ya upanga. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.”
and Sheba doth fall, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped — only I alone — to declare [it] to 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 this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Fire of God hath fallen from the heavens, and burneth among the flock, and among the young men, and consumeth them, and I am escaped — only I alone — to declare [it] to 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 this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Chaldeans made three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped — only I alone — to declare [it] to 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 this [one] is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Thy sons and thy daughters are eating, and drinking wine, in the house of their brother, the first-born.
19 Upepo wenye nguvu ulitokea jangwani na ukapiga pembe nne za nyumba. Ikawaangukia vijana hao, na wakafa wote. Mimi pekee nimeokoka kukuletea habari.
And lo, a great wind hath come from over the wilderness, and striketh against the four corners of the house, and it falleth on the young men, and they are dead, and I am escaped — only I alone — to declare [it] to thee.'
20 Kisha Ayubu akainuka, akalirarua joho lake, akanyoa kichwa chake, akaanguka chini kifudifudi na kumwabudu Mungu.
And Job riseth, and rendeth his robe, and shaveth his head, and falleth to the earth, and doth obeisance,
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 saith, 'Naked came I forth from the womb of my mother, and naked I turn back thither: Jehovah hath given and Jehovah hath taken: let the name of Jehovah be blessed.'
22 Katika mambo hayo yote, Ayubu hakutenda dhambi, wala hakumwazia Mungu kwa uovu.
In all this Job hath not sinned, nor given folly to God.

< Ayubu 1 >