Job 22
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 Can a man be profitable unto God? surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.
“Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?
4 Is it for thy fear [of him] that he reproveth thee, that he entereth with thee into judgment?
“Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?
5 Is not thy wickedness great? neither is there any end to thine iniquities.
Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?
6 For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,
8 But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man, he dwelt in it.
ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.
9 Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.
10 Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee,
Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,
11 Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
“Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!
13 And thou sayest, What doth God know? can he judge through the thick darkness?
Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.
Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.
15 Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?
16 Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream:
Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.
17 Who said unto God, Depart from us; and, What can the Almighty do for us?
Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’
18 Yet he fired their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad; and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
“Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,
20 [Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, and the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.
‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’
21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
“Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.
22 Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up; if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.
Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,
24 And lay thou [thy] treasure in the dust, and [the gold of] Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,
25 And the Almighty shall be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee.
ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.
26 For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.
27 Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee; and thou shalt pay thy vows.
Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.
28 Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and light shall shine upon thy ways.
Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.
29 When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and the humble person he shall save.
Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.
30 He shall deliver [even] him that is not innocent: yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thine hands.
Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”
