1
Kisha Ayubu akaendelea na mithali yake, na kusema,
And Job continued his discourse:
2
Laiti ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika miezi ya kale, Kama katika siku hizo Mungu aliponilinda;
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3
Hapo taa yake ilipomulika juu yangu kichwani, Nami nilitembea gizani kwa njia ya mwanga wake;
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4
Kama nilivyokuwa katika siku zangu za kukomaa, Hapo siri ya Mungu ilipokuwa hemani mwangu;
when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5
Wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa akali pamoja nami, Nao watoto wangu walipokuwa wakinizunguka;
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6
Wakati hatua zangu zilipokuwa zikioshwa kwa siagi, Nalo jabali liliponimiminia mito ya mafuta!
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7
Wakati nilipotoka kwenda mjini, hata langoni, Nilipokitengeza kiti changu katika njia kuu,
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8
Hao vijana waliniona wakajificha, Nao wazee wakaniondokea na kusimama;
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9
Wakuu wakanyamaa wasinene, Na kuweka mikono yao vinywani mwao;
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10
Sauti yao masheki ilinyamaa, Na ndimi zao zilishikamana na makaakaa yao.
The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11
Maana sikio liliponisikia, ndipo likanibarikia; Na jicho liliponiona, likanishuhudia.
For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12
Kwa sababu nalimwokoa maskini aliyenililia; Yatima naye, na yule asiyekuwa na mtu wa kumsaidia.
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13
Baraka yake yeye aliyekuwa karibu na kupotea ilinijia; Nikaufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14
Nalijivika haki, ikanifunika, Adili yangu ilikuwa kama joho na kilemba.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15
Nalikuwa macho kwa kipofu, Nalikuwa miguu kwa aliyechechemea.
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16
Nalikuwa baba kwa mhitaji, Na daawa ya mtu nisiyemjua naliichunguza.
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17
Nami nilizivunja taya za wasio haki, Na kumpokonya mawindo katika meno yake.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18
Ndipo niliposema, Nitakufa ndani ya kioto changu, Nami nitaziongeza siku zangu kama mchanga;
So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19
Shina langu limeenea hata kufika majini, Na umande hukaa usiku kucha katika matawi yangu;
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20
Utukufu wangu utakuwa mpya kwangu, Na uta wangu hurejezwa upya mkononi mwangu.
My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21
Watu walitega masikio kunisikiliza, na kungoja, Wakanyamaa kimya wapate sikia mashauri yangu.
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22
Hawakunena tena baada ya kusikia maneno yangu; Matamko yangu yakadondoka juu yao.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23
Walikuwa wakiningojea kama kungojea mvua; Wakafunua vinywa vyao sana kama mvua ya masika.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24
Walipokata tamaa nikacheka nao; Na mwanga wa uso wangu hawakuuangusha.
If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25
Niliwachagulia njia, nikakaa kama mkuu wao. Nikakaa kama mfalme katika jeshi la askari, Mfano wa awafarijiye hao waombolezao.
I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.