Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
“Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,
6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.
7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.
“Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.
Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.
16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
“Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
“Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.
25 I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.
Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.
