1
Ndipo Ayubu akajibu, na kusema,
Then Job answered:
2
Kweli najua kuwa ndivyo hivyo; Lakini mtu huwaje mwenye haki mbele za Mungu?
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3
Kama akipenda kushindana naye, Hawezi kumjibu neno moja katika elfu.
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4
Yeye ni mwenye hekima moyoni, na mwenye uwezo katika nguvu; Ni nani aliyejifanya kuwa mgumu juu yake, naye akafanikiwa?
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5
Aiondoaye milima, nayo haina habari, Akiipindua katika hasira zake.
He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6
Aitikisaye dunia itoke mahali pake, Na nguzo zake hutetema.
He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7
Aliamuruye jua, nalo halichomozi; Nazo nyota huzipiga muhuri.
He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8
Ambaye peke yake ni mwenye kuzitandika mbingu, Na kuyakanyaga mawimbi ya bahari.
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9
Yeye afanyaye hizo nyota za Dubu, na Orioni, na hicho Kilimia, Na makundi ya nyota ya kusini.
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10
Atendaye mambo makuu yasiyotafutikana; Naam, mambo ya ajabu yasiyohesabika.
He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11
Tazama, yuaenenda karibu nami, nisimwone; Tena yuapita kwenda mbele, nisimtambue.
Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12
Tazama, yuakamata, ni nani awezaye kumzuia? Ni nani awezaye kumwuliza, Wafanya nini?
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13
Mungu haondoi hasira zake; Hao wamsaidiao Rahabu huinama chini yake.
God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14
Je! Mimi nitamjibuje, Na kuyachagua maneno yangu kuhojiana naye?
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15
Ambaye, nijapokuwa mimi ni mwenye haki, nisingemjibu; Ningemsihi-sihi mtesi wangu.
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16
Kama ningemwita, naye akaniitikia; Hata hivyo singeamini kuwa amesikiza sauti yangu.
If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17
Yeye anipondaye kwa dhoruba, Na kuziongeza jeraha zangu pasipokuwa na sababu.
For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18
Haniachi nipate kuvuta pumzi, Lakini hunijaza uchungu.
He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19
Kama tukitaja nguvu za mashujaa, tazama yupo hapo! Kama tukitaja hukumu, ni nani atakayeniwekea muhula?
If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20
Ingawa ni mwenye haki, kinywa changu mwenyewe kitanihukumu; Ingawa ni mkamilifu, kitanishuhudia kuwa ni mpotovu.
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21
Mimi ni mkamilifu; siangalii nafsi yangu; Naudharau uhai wangu.
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22
Hayo yote ni mamoja; kwa hiyo nasema, Yeye huangamiza wakamilifu na waovu pia.
It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23
Kama hilo pigo likiua ghafula, Atayadhihaki majaribu yake asiye na kosa.
When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24
Dunia imetiwa mkononi mwa waovu; Yeye hufunika nyuso za waamuzi wake; Kama si yeye, ni nani basi?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25
Basi siku zangu zina mbio kuliko tarishi; Zakimbia, wala hazioni mema.
My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26
Zimepita kama merikebu ziendazo mbio; Mfano wa tai ayashukiaye mawindo.
They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27
Nikisema, Mimi nitasahau kuugua kwangu, Nitaacha kununa uso nikachangamke moyo;
If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28
Mimi huziogopa huzuni zangu zote, Najua kuwa hutanihesabu kuwa sina hatia.
I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29
Nitahukumiwa kuwa ni mkosa; Ya nini basi nitaabike bure?
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30
Ingawaje najiosha kwa maji ya theluji, Na kuitakasa mikono yangu kwa sabuni;
If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31
Lakini utanitupa shimoni, Nami hata nguo zangu zitanichukia.
then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32
Kwani yeye si mtu, kama mimi, hata nimjibu, Hata tukaribiane katika hukumu.
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33
Hapana mwenye kuamua katikati yetu, Awezaye kutuwekea mkono sote wawili.
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34
Na aniondolee fimbo yake, Na utisho wake usinitie hofu;
Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35
Ndipo hapo ningesema, nisimwogope; Kwani sivyo nilivyo nafsini mwangu.
Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.