Ayubu 22
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
"Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
Is it any pleasure to Shaddai, that you are righteous? Or does it benefit him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
Is it for your piety that he reproves you, that he enters with you into judgment?
5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
Isn't your wickedness great? Neither is there any end to your iniquities.
6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
For you have taken pledges from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
You haven't given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth. The honorable man, he lived in it.
9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
Therefore snares are around you. Sudden fear troubles you,
11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.
12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
"Isn't God in the heights of heaven? See the height of the stars, how high they are.
13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he doesn't see. He walks on the vault of the sky.'
15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
Will you keep the old way, which wicked men have trodden,
16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream,
17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
who said to God, 'Depart from us;' and, 'What can Shaddai do for us?'
18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
Yet he filled their houses with good things, but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
The righteous see it, and are glad. The innocent ridicule them,
20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
saying, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off. The fire has consumed the remnant of them.'
21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
"Acquaint yourself with him, now, and be at peace. Thereby good shall come to you.
22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
Please receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
If you return to Shaddai, you shall be built up, if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents.
24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
Lay your treasure in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.
25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
Shaddai will be your treasure, and precious silver to you.
26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
For then you will delight yourself in Shaddai, and shall lift up your face to God.
27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
You shall make your prayer to him, and he will hear you. You shall pay your vows.
28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
And you will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' And he will save the humble.
30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
He will even deliver him who is not innocent. Yes, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
