1
Mbona nyakati zisiwekwe na Mwenyezi? Na hao wamjuao mbona hawazioni siku zake?
“Why does the Almighty not reserve times for judgment? Why may those who know Him never see His days?
2
Wako waziondoao alama za mipaka; Huyachukua makundi kwa jeuri na kuyalisha.
Men move boundary stones; they pasture stolen flocks.
3
Humfukuza punda wake asiye baba, Humtwaa rehani ng'ombe wake mwanamke mjane.
They drive away the donkey of the fatherless and take the widow’s ox in pledge.
4
Humgeuza mhitaji aiache njia; Maskini wa nchi hujificha pamoja.
They push the needy off the road and force all the poor of the land into hiding.
5
Tazama, kama punda-mwitu jangwani Wao hutoka kwenda kazini mwao, wakitafuta chakula kwa bidii; Jangwa huwapa chakula cha watoto wao.
Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor go to work foraging for food; the wasteland is food for their children.
6
Hukata nafaka zao mashambani; Na kuokota zabibu za waovu.
They gather fodder in the fields and glean the vineyards of the wicked.
7
Hujilaza usiku kucha uchi pasipo nguo, Wala hawana cha kujifunika baridi.
Without clothing, they spend the night naked; they have no covering against the cold.
8
Hutota kwa manyunyo ya milimani, Na kuambatana na jabali kwa kukosa sitara,
Drenched by mountain rains, they huddle against the rocks for want of shelter.
9
Wako wamwondoao matitini kwa nguvu huyo asiye na baba, Na kutwaa rehani kwa maskini;
The fatherless infant is snatched from the breast; the nursing child of the poor is seized for a debt.
10
Hata wazunguke uchi pasipo mavazi, Nao wakiwa na njaa huchukua miganda;
Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.
11
Hushindika mafuta ndani ya makuta ya watu hao; Wakanyaga mashinikizo, nao wana kiu.
They crush olives within their walls; they tread the winepresses, but go thirsty.
12
Watu huugua toka mji ulio na watu wengi, Na roho yake aliyejeruhiwa hupiga ukelele; Wala Mungu hauangalii upumbavu.
From the city, men groan, and the souls of the wounded cry out, yet God charges no one with wrongdoing.
13
Hawa ni katika hao waliouasi mwanga; Hawazijui njia zake, Wala hawakai katika mapito yake.
Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
14
Mwuaji huamka asubuhi kukipambauka, huwaua maskini na wahitaji; Tena wakati wa usiku yu kama mwivi.
When daylight is gone, the murderer rises to kill the poor and needy; in the night he is like a thief.
15
Tena jicho lake mzinifu hungojea wakati wa giza-giza, Akisema, Hapana jicho litakaloniona; Naye huuficha uso wake.
The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face.
16
Wao hutoboa nyumba gizani; Hujifungia ndani wakati wa mchana; Hawaujui mwanga.
In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.
17
Kwani asubuhi kwao wote ni kama giza tupu; Kwani wao wavijua vitisho vya hiyo giza tupu.
For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!
18
Mwasema, Yeye ni mwepesi juu ya uso wa gharika; Sehemu yao inalaaniwa duniani; Hageuki kwenda njia ya mizabibuni.
They are but foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one turns toward their vineyards.
19
Chaka na hari hukausha maji ya theluji; Kuzimu nako hao ambao wamefanya dhambi.
As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned.
20
Tumbo lililomzaa litamsahau; buu litamla na kuona tamu; Hatakumbukwa tena; Na udhalimu utavunjwa kama mti.
The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is broken like a tree.
21
Naam, yeye huwala walio tasa wasiozaa; Wala hamtendei mema mwanamke mjane.
They prey on the barren and childless, and show no kindness to the widow.
22
Lakini Mungu huwadumisha wenye uwezo kwa nguvu zake; Huinuka, wasiokuwa na tumaini la kuishi.
Yet by His power, God drags away the mighty; though rising up, they have no assurance of life.
23
Huwapa kuwa na salama, nao wapumzika kwayo; Na macho yake ya juu ya njia zao.
He gives them a sense of security, but His eyes are on their ways.
24
Wao wametukuzwa; lakini kitambo kidogo hutoweka; Naam, hushushwa, na kuondolewa njiani kama wengine wote, Nao hukatwa kama vile masuke ya ngano.
They are exalted for a moment, then they are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain.
25
Na kama sivyo sasa, ni nani atakayenihukumu kuwa ni mwongo, Na kuyafanya maneno yangu kuwa si kitu?
If this is not so, then who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?”