< Job 4 >

1 Then Eliphaz, from Teman, replied to Job. He said,
Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:
2 “Will you please let me say something to you? I am not [RHQ] able to remain silent [any longer].
“Kama mtu akithubutu kuzungumza nawe, kutakukasirisha? Lakini ni nani awezaye kujizuia asiseme?
3 In the past, you have instructed/taught many people, and you have encouraged those who were weak.
Fikiri jinsi ambavyo umewafundisha watu wengi, jinsi ambavyo umeitia nguvu mikono iliyokuwa dhaifu.
4 By what you said, you have helped those who (needed spiritual help/almost quit trusting in God) [MET], and you have enabled them to become spiritually strong again [MET].
Maneno yako yamewategemeza wale waliojikwaa; umeyatia nguvu magoti yaliyokuwa dhaifu.
5 But now, when you experience disasters, you become discouraged. The disasters hit you, and you are stunned.
Lakini sasa hii taabu imekujia wewe, nawe unashuka moyo; imekupiga wewe, nawe unafadhaika.
6 You revere God; (does that not cause you to trust [in him]?/that should cause you to trust [in him].) [RHQ] If you were guiltless, you would [RHQ] be confident that [God] would not [have allowed] these disasters [to] happen to you!
Je, kumcha Mungu kwako hakupaswi kuwa ndiyo matumaini yako na njia zako kutokuwa na lawama ndilo taraja lako?
7 Think about this: Do innocent people die [while they are still young] [RHQ]? Does God get rid of godly people [RHQ]? [No!]
“Fikiri sasa: Ni mtu yupi asiye na hatia ambaye aliwahi kuangamia? Ni wapi wanyofu waliwahi kuangamizwa?
8 What I have experienced is this: [Just as] [MET] farmers who plant bad [seeds] do not harvest good [crops], [just as those who start] trouble for others, later bring trouble on themselves.
Kwa jinsi ambavyo mimi nimechunguza, wale walimao ubaya na wale hupanda uovu, huvuna hayo hayo hayo.
9 They die when God angrily blows his breath on them, when he is very angry with them.
Kwa pumzi ya Mungu huangamizwa; kwa mshindo wa hasira zake huangamia.
10 [Even though wicked people may be very powerful like] young lions, [God] will get rid of them [MET].
Simba anaweza kunguruma na kukoroma, lakini bado meno ya simba mkubwa huvunjika.
11 [They will die like] fierce lions [that] starve to death when there are no animals that they can kill and eat, and [their children will be separated from each other like] young lions separate from each other [to find food].”
Simba anaweza kuangamia kwa kukosa mawindo, nao wana wa simba jike hutawanyika.
12 “I heard a message that someone came and whispered to me.
“Neno lililetwa kwangu kwa siri, masikio yangu yakasikia mnongʼono wake.
13 He spoke to me at night when I was having a bad dream that disturbed/frightened me while I was fast asleep.
Katikati ya ndoto za kutia wasiwasi wakati wa usiku, hapo usingizi mzito uwapatapo wanadamu,
14 It caused me to be afraid and tremble; it caused all my bones to shake.
hofu na kutetemeka kulinishika na kufanya mifupa yangu yote itetemeke.
15 A ghost glided past my face and caused the hair on [on the back of] my neck to stand straight up.
Kuna roho aliyepita mbele ya uso wangu, nazo nywele za mwili wangu zikasimama.
16 It stopped, but I could not see what form it had. But [I could sense that] there was some being in front of me, and it said in a quiet voice,
Yule roho akasimama, lakini sikuweza kutambua kilikuwa kitu gani. Umbo fulani lilisimama mbele ya macho yangu, kukawa na ukimya kisha nikasikia sauti:
17 ‘(Does God consider anyone to be righteous?/No human beings can be righteous in God’s sight!) [RHQ] (Their creator cannot consider them to be pure./Can their creator consider them to be pure?) [RHQ]
‘Je, binadamu aweza kuwa mwadilifu kuliko Mungu? Je, mtu aweza kuwa safi kuliko Muumba wake?
18 God cannot be sure that his own angels [will always do what is right]; he declares that some of them have done what is wrong.
Kama Mungu hawaamini watumishi wake, kama yeye huwalaumu malaika zake kwa kukosea,
19 So he certainly cannot trust human beings who were made from dust and clay, who are crushed as easily as moths are crushed!
ni mara ngapi zaidi wale waishio katika nyumba za udongo wa mfinyanzi, ambazo misingi yake ipo mavumbini, ambao wamepondwa kama nondo!
20 People are sometimes well in the morning, but in the evening they are dead. They are gone forever and do not even know it (OR, and no one pays any attention to it).
Kati ya mawio na machweo huvunjwa vipande vipande; bila yeyote kutambua, huangamia milele.
21 They are like [MET] tents that collapse [suddenly]: They die [suddenly] before they become wise.’”
Je, kamba za hema yao hazikungʼolewa, hivyo hufa bila hekima?’

< Job 4 >