1
Baada ya hayo Ayubu akafunua kinywa chake, na kuilaani siku yake.
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.
2
Ayubu akajibu, na kusema;
And this is what he said:
3
Na ipotelee mbali ile siku niliyozaliwa mimi, Na ule usiku uliosema, Mtoto mume ametungishwa mimba.
“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
4
Siku hiyo na iwe giza; Mungu asiiangalie toka juu, Wala mwanga usiiangazie.
If only that day had turned to darkness! May God above disregard it; may no light shine upon it.
5
Ishikwe na giza, giza tupu, kuwa yake; Wingu na likae juu yake; Chote kiifanyacho siku kuwa giza na kiitishe.
May darkness and gloom reclaim it, and a cloud settle over it; may the blackness of the day overwhelm it.
6
Tena usiku huo, na ushikwe na giza kuu; Usihesabiwe katika siku za mwaka; Wala kutiwa katika hesabu ya miezi.
If only darkness had taken that night away! May it not appear among the days of the year; may it never be entered in any of the months.
7
Tazama, usiku huo na uwe tasa; Wala isiwe ndani yake sauti ya shangwe.
Behold, may that night be barren; may no joyful voice come into it.
8
Na waulaani hao waulaanio mchana, Hao walio tayari kumwamsha huyo lewiathani.
May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.
9
Nyota za mapambazuko yake na ziwe giza; Na utafute mwanga lakini usiupate; Wala usiyaone makope ya asubuhi;
May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain for daylight; may it not see the breaking of dawn.
10
Kwa sababu haukuifunga milango ya tumbo la mamangu. Wala kunifichia taabu machoni.
For that night did not shut the doors of the womb to hide the sorrow from my eyes.
11
Mbona si kufa mimi tokea mimbani? Mbona nisitoe roho hapo nilipotoka tumboni?
Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb?
12
Mbona hayo magoti kunipokea? Au hayo maziwa, hata nikanyonya?
Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed?
13
Maana hapo ningelala na kutulia; Ningelala usingizi; na kupata kupumzika;
For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest
14
Pamoja na wafalme na washauri wa dunia, Hao waliojijengea maganjoni;
with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins,
15
Au pamoja na wakuu wenye dhahabu, Waliozijaza fedha nyumba zao;
or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.
16
Au, kama kuzikwa mimba iliyoharibika, nisingekuwako; Kama wachanga wasiouona mwanga kabisa.
Or why was I not hidden like a stillborn child, like an infant who never sees daylight?
17
Huko waovu huacha kusumbua; Huko nako hao waliochoka wapumzika
There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.
18
Huko wafungwa waona raha pamoja; Hawaisikii sauti yake msimamizi.
The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.
19
Wakuu na wadogo wako huko; Mtumishi yu huru kwa bwana wake.
Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.
20
Mbona yeye aliye mashakani kupewa mwanga, Na hao wenye uchungu rohoni kupewa uhai;
Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,
21
Ambao wangojea mauti, lakini hawayapati; Na kuyachimbulia zaidi ya kutafuta hazina iliyostirika;
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,
22
Ambao wafurahi mno, Na kushangilia watakapoliona kaburi?
who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave?
23
Kwa nini mtu aliyezibiwa njia kupewa mwanga, Ambaye Mungu amemzingira kwa ukingo?
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?
24
Kwani kuugua kwangu kwaja kana kwamba ni chakula, Na kunguruma kwangu kumemiminika kama maji.
I sigh when food is put before me, and my groans pour out like water.
25
Maana jambo hilo nichalo hunipata, Nalo linitialo hofu hunijilia.
For the thing I feared has overtaken me, and what I dreaded has befallen me.
26
Mimi sioni raha, wala situlii, wala kupumzika; Lakini huja taabu.
I am not at ease or quiet; I have no rest, for trouble has come.”