1
Palikuwa na mtu katika nchi ya Usi, jina lake alikuwa akiitwa Ayubu; mtu huyo alikuwa mkamilifu na mwelekevu, ni mmoja aliyemcha Mungu, na kuepukana na uovu.
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
2
Kisha walizaliwa kwake wana saba, na binti watatu.
He had seven sons and three daughters,
3
Mali yake nayo yalikuwa ni kondoo elfu saba, na ngamia elfu tatu, na jozi za ng'ombe mia tano, na punda wake mia tano, na watu wa nyumbani wengi sana; basi hivi mtu huyo alikuwa ni mkuu sana kuliko watu wote wa upande wa mashariki.
and he owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very large number of servants. Job was the greatest man of all the people of the East.
4
Nao wanawe huenda na kufanya karamu katika nyumba ya kila mmoja wao kwa siku yake; nao wakatuma na kuwaita maumbu yao watatu ili waje kula na kunywa pamoja nao.
Job’s sons would take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
5
Basi ilikuwa, hapo hizo siku za karamu zao zilipokuwa zimetimia, Ayubu hutuma kwao akawatakasa, kisha akaamka asubuhi na mapema, na kusongeza sadaka za kuteketezwa kama hesabu yao wote ilivyokuwa; kwani Ayubu alisema, Yumkini kwamba hawa wanangu wamefanya dhambi, na kumkufuru Mungu mioyoni mwao. Ndivyo alivyofanya Ayubu sikuzote.
And when the days of feasting were over, Job would send for his children to purify them, rising early in the morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them. For Job thought, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
6
Ilikuwa, siku moja ambayo hao wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujihudhurisha mbele za Bwana, Shetani naye akaenda kati yao.
One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them.
7
Bwana akamwuliza Shetani, Umetoka wapi wewe? Ndipo Shetani akamjibu Bwana, na kusema, Natoka katika kuzunguka-zunguka duniani, na katika kutembea huku na huku humo.
“Where have you come from?” said the LORD to Satan. “From roaming through the earth,” he replied, “and walking back and forth in it.”
8
Kisha Bwana akamwuliza Shetani, Je! Umemwangalia huyo mtumishi wangu Ayubu? Kwa kuwa hapana mmoja aliye kama yeye duniani, mtu mkamilifu na mwelekevu, mwenye kumcha Mungu na kuepukana na uovu.
Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
9
Ndipo Shetani akamjibu Bwana, na kusema, Je! Huyo Ayubu yuamcha Bwana bure?
Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
10
Wewe hukumzingira kwa ukigo pande zote, pamoja na nyumba yake, na vitu vyote alivyo navyo? Kazi za mikono yake umezibarikia, nayo mali yake imeongezeka katika nchi.
Have You not placed a hedge on every side around him and his household and all that he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
11
Lakini nyosha mkono wako sasa, uyaguse hayo yote aliyo nayo, naye atakukufuru mbele za uso wako.
But stretch out Your hand and strike all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”
12
Bwana akamwambia Shetani, Tazama, yote aliyo nayo yamo katika uwezo wako; lakini usinyoshe mkono wako juu yake yeye mwenyewe. Basi Shetani akatoka mbele za uso wa Bwana.
“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13
Ilitukia siku moja hao wanawe na binti zake walipokuwa wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
One day, while Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
14
mjumbe akamfikilia Ayubu na kumwambia, Hao ng'ombe walikuwa wakilima, na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao;
a messenger came and reported to Job: “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,
15
mara Waseba wakawashambulia, wakawachukua wakaenda nao; naam, wamewaua hao watumishi kwa makali ya upanga, mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Moto wa Mungu umeanguka kutoka mbinguni na kuwateketeza kondoo, na wale watumishi, na kuwaangamiza; mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Wakaldayo walifanya vikosi vitatu, wakawaangukia ngamia, wakaenda nao, naam, wamewaua wale watumishi kwa makali ya upanga; mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels, and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
18
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Wanao na binti zako walikuwa wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa;
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house,
19
mara, tazama, upepo wenye nguvu ukatoka pande za jangwani, ukaipiga hiyo nyumba pembe zake nne, nayo ikawaangukia hao vijana, nao wamekufa; na mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
20
Ndipo Ayubu akainuka, akalirarua joho lake, kisha akanyoa kichwa chake, na kuanguka chini, na kusujudia;
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
21
akasema, Mimi nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu nili uchi, nami nitarudi tena huko uchi vilevile; Bwana alitoa, na Bwana ametwaa; jina la Bwana na libarikiwe.
saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22
Katika mambo hayo yote Ayubu hakufanya dhambi, wala hakumwazia Mungu kwa upumbavu.
In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.