< Ayubu 4 >

1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, and said: —
2 “Kama mtu akithubutu kuzungumza nawe, kutakukasirisha? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asiseme?
If one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?
3 Fikiri jinsi ambavyo umewafundisha watu wengi, jinsi ambavyo umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa dhaifu.
Lo! thou hast admonished many, and, slack hands, hast thou been wont to uphold:
4 Maneno yako yamewategemeza wale waliojikwaa; umeyatia nguvu magoti yaliyokuwa dhaifu.
Him that was stumbling, have thy words raised up, and, sinking knees, hast thou strengthened.
5 Lakini sasa hii taabu imekujia wewe, nawe unashuka moyo; imekupiga wewe, nawe unafadhaika.
But, now, it cometh upon thee, and thou despairest, It smiteth even thee, and thou art dismayed.
6 Je, kumcha Mungu kwako hakupaswi kuwa ndiyo matumaini yako na njia zako kutokuwa na lawama ndilo taraja lako?
Is not, thy reverence, thy confidence? And is not, thy hope, the very integrity of thy ways?
7 “Fikiri sasa: Ni mtu yupi asiye na hatia ambaye aliwahi kuangamia? Ni wapi wanyofu waliwahi kuangamizwa?
Remember, I pray thee, who, being innocent, hath perished, or when, the upright, have been cut off.
8 Kwa jinsi ambavyo mimi nimechunguza, wale walimao ubaya na wale hupanda uovu, huvuna hayo hayo hayo.
So far as I have seen, They who plow for iniquity and sow misery, reap the same:
9 Kwa pumzi ya Mungu huangamizwa; kwa mshindo wa hasira zake huangamia.
By the blast of GOD, they perish, And, by the breath of his nostrils, are they consumed:
10 Simba anaweza kunguruma na kukoroma, lakini bado meno ya simba mkubwa huvunjika.
[Notwithstanding] the roaring of the lion, and the noise of the howling lion, yet, the teeth of the fierce lions, are broken:
11 Simba anaweza kuangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, nao wana wa simba jike hutawanyika.
The strong lion perishing for lack of prey, Even the whelps of the lioness, are scattered.
12 “Neno lililetwa kwangu kwa siri, masikio yangu yakasikia mnongʼono wake.
But, unto me, something was brought by stealth, —and mine ear caught a whispering of the same:
13 Katikati ya ndoto za kutia wasiwasi wakati wa usiku, hapo usingizi mzito uwapatapo wanadamu,
When there were thoughts, from visions of the night, —When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 hofu na kutetemeka kulinishika na kufanya mifupa yangu yote itetemeke.
Dread, came upon me, and trembling, The multitude of my bones, it put in dread:
15 Kuna roho aliyepita mbele ya uso wangu, nazo nywele za mwili wangu zikasimama.
Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-up:
16 Yule roho akasimama, lakini sikuweza kutambua kilikuwa kitu gani. Umbo fulani lilisimama mbele ya macho yangu, kukawa na ukimya kisha nikasikia sauti:
It stood still, but I could not distinguish its appearance, I looked, but there was no form before mine eyes, —A whispering voice, I heard: —
17 ‘Je, binadamu aweza kuwa mwadilifu kuliko Mungu? Je, mtu aweza kuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
Shall, mortal man, be more just than GOD? Or a man be more pure than, his Maker?
18 Kama Mungu hawaamini watumishi wake, kama yeye huwalaumu malaika zake kwa kukosea,
Lo! in his own servants, he trusteth not, and, his own messengers, he chargeth with error:
19 ni mara ngapi zaidi wale waishio katika nyumba za udongo wa mfinyanzi, ambazo misingi yake ipo mavumbini, ambao wamepondwa kama nondo!
How much more the dwellers in houses of clay, which, in the dust, have their foundation, which are crushed sooner than a moth:
20 Kati ya mawio na machweo huvunjwa vipande vipande; bila yeyote kutambua, huangamia milele.
Betwixt morning and evening, are they broken in pieces, With none to save, they utterly perish:
21 Je, kamba za hema yao hazikungʼolewa, hivyo hufa bila hekima?’
Is not their tent-rope within them, torn away? They die, disrobed of wisdom!

< Ayubu 4 >