Ayubu 4
1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Kama mtu akithubutu kuzungumza nawe, kutakukasirisha? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asiseme?
If anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?
3 Fikiri jinsi ambavyo umewafundisha watu wengi, jinsi ambavyo umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa dhaifu.
See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Maneno yako yamewategemeza wale waliojikwaa; umeyatia nguvu magoti yaliyokuwa dhaifu.
Your words have supported him who was falling; you have made feeble knees firm.
5 Lakini sasa hii taabu imekujia wewe, nawe unashuka moyo; imekupiga wewe, nawe unafadhaika.
But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.
6 Je, kumcha Mungu kwako hakupaswi kuwa ndiyo matumaini yako na njia zako kutokuwa na lawama ndilo taraja lako?
Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Fikiri sasa: Ni mtu yupi asiye na hatia ambaye aliwahi kuangamia? Ni wapi wanyofu waliwahi kuangamizwa?
Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever cut off?
8 Kwa jinsi ambavyo mimi nimechunguza, wale walimao ubaya na wale hupanda uovu, huvuna hayo hayo hayo.
According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.
9 Kwa pumzi ya Mungu huangamizwa; kwa mshindo wa hasira zake huangamia.
By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 Simba anaweza kunguruma na kukoroma, lakini bado meno ya simba mkubwa huvunjika.
The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.
11 Simba anaweza kuangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, nao wana wa simba jike hutawanyika.
The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.
12 “Neno lililetwa kwangu kwa siri, masikio yangu yakasikia mnongʼono wake.
Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.
13 Katikati ya ndoto za kutia wasiwasi wakati wa usiku, hapo usingizi mzito uwapatapo wanadamu,
Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.
14 hofu na kutetemeka kulinishika na kufanya mifupa yangu yote itetemeke.
It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.
15 Kuna roho aliyepita mbele ya uso wangu, nazo nywele za mwili wangu zikasimama.
Then a spirit passed before my face, and the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Yule roho akasimama, lakini sikuweza kutambua kilikuwa kitu gani. Umbo fulani lilisimama mbele ya macho yangu, kukawa na ukimya kisha nikasikia sauti:
The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,
17 ‘Je, binadamu aweza kuwa mwadilifu kuliko Mungu? Je, mtu aweza kuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
“Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Kama Mungu hawaamini watumishi wake, kama yeye huwalaumu malaika zake kwa kukosea,
See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of folly,
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 is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?
20 Kati ya mawio na machweo huvunjwa vipande vipande; bila yeyote kutambua, huangamia milele.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.
21 Je, kamba za hema yao hazikungʼolewa, hivyo hufa bila hekima?’
Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.
