1
Ndipo Ayubu akajibu, na kusema,
Then Job answered:
2
Nimesikia maneno mengi mfano wa hayo; Ninyi nyote ni wafariji wenye kutaabisha.
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3
Je! Maneno yasiyo faida yatakuwa na mwisho? Au, kuna nini kinachokukasirisha, hata ukajibu?
Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
4
Mimi nami ningeweza kunena kama ninyi; Kama roho zenu zingekuwa mahali pa roho yangu, Ningeweza kutunga maneno juu yenu, Na kuwatikisia ninyi kichwa changu.
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
5
Lakini ningewatia nguvu kwa kinywa changu, Na utuzo wa midomo yangu ungetuliza.
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
6
Nijapokuwa nanena, huzuni yangu haitulizwi; Nijapokuwa najizuia, nimepunguziwa kitu gani?
Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
7
Lakini sasa amenichokesha; Jamii yangu yote umeifanya ukiwa.
Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
8
Umenishika sana, ni ushahidi juu yangu; Na kukonda kwangu kwaniinukia, kwanishuhudia usoni pangu.
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
9
Amenirarua katika ghadhabu zake, na kunionea; Amesaga-saga meno juu yangu; Mtesi wangu hunikazia macho makali.
His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
10
Wamenifumbulia vinywa vyao; Wamenipiga shavuni kwa kunitukana; Hujikutanisha pamoja juu yangu.
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
11
Mungu amenitia kwa hao wapotovu, Na kunitupa mikononi mwao waovu.
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
12
Nilikuwa katika raha, naye akanivunja-vunja; Naam, amenishika shingo, na kuniponda; Tena amenisimamisha niwe shabaha yake.
I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
13
Wapigaji wake wa mishale hunizingira kotekote, Hunipasua viuno vyangu, asinihurumie; Nyonga zangu amezimwaga juu ya nchi.
His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14
Hunivunja kwa uvunjifu juu ya uvunjifu; Hunishambulia mfano wa jitu shujaa.
He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15
Nimeshona nguo ya magunia juu ya mwili wangu, Na pembe yangu nimeidhili uvumbini.
I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
16
Uso wangu umeharibika kwa kutoa machozi, Na giza tupu li katika kope zangu;
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17
Ijapokuwa hapana jeuri mikononi mwangu, Na kuomba kwangu ni safi.
yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18
Ee nchi, usiifunike damu yangu, Na kilio changu kisipate mahali pa kupumzika.
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19
Hata sasa, tazama, shahidi wangu yuko mbinguni. Na huyo atakayenidhamini yuko juu.
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20
Rafiki zangu hunidharau; Lakini jicho langu humwagia Mungu machozi;
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
21
Laiti angemtolea mtu hoja mbele ya Mungu, Amtetee na mwanadamu mbele ya jirani yake.
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
22
Kwani ikiisha pita miaka michache, Nitakwenda njia hiyo ambayo sitarudi tena.
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.