1
Nilifanya agano na macho yangu; Basi nawezaje kumwangalia msichana?
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2
Kwani sehemu ya Mungu itokayo juu ingekuwa nini, Na urithi wa Mwenyezi utokao juu?
For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3
Je! Siyo msiba kwa wasio haki, Na hasara kwao watendao uovu?
Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4
Je! Yeye hazioni njia zangu, Na kuzihesabu hatua zangu zote?
Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5
Kwamba nimetembea katika ubatili, Na mguu wangu umeukimbilia udanganyifu;
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6
(Na nipimwe katika mizani iliyo sawasawa, Ili Mungu aujue uelekevu wangu);
let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7
Kwamba hatua yangu imekengeuka na kuiacha njia, Na moyo wangu kuyaandama macho yangu, Tena kwamba kipaku cho chote kimeshikamana na mikono yangu;
If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8
Basi na nipande, mwingine ale; Naam, mazao ya shamba langu na yang'olewe.
then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9
Kama moyo wangu ulishawishwa kwa mwanamke, Nami nimeotea mlangoni pa jirani yangu;
If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10
Ndipo hapo mke wangu na asage kwa mwingine, Na wengine na wainame juu yake.
then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11
Kwani hilo lingekuwa kosa kuu; Naam, lingekuwa ni uovu wa kuadhibiwa na waamuzi;
For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12
Kwa kuwa ni moto uteketezao hata Uharibifu, Nao ungeyang'oa maongeo yangu yote.
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13
Kama nimeidharau daawa ya mtumishi wangu, au ya kijakazi changu, Waliposhindana nami;
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14
Basi Mungu atakapoinuka nitafanya nini? Naye atakapozuru, nitamjibuje?
what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15
Je! Huyo aliyenifanya mimi ndani ya tumbo, siye aliyemfanya na yeye? Si yeye mmoja aliyetufinyanga tumboni?
Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16
Ikiwa nimewanyima maskini haja zao, Au kama nimeyatia kiwi macho ya mwanamke mjane;
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17
Au kama nimekula tonge langu peke yangu, Mayatima wasipate kulila;
if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18
(La, tangu ujana wangu alikua pamoja nami kama kwa baba; Nami nimekuwa ni kiongozi cha mjane tangu tumbo la mamangu);
though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19
Ikiwa nimemwona mtu kuangamia kwa kukosa nguo, Au wahitaji kukosa mavazi;
if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20
Ikiwa viuno vyake havikunibarikia, Au kama hakupata moto kwa manyoya ya kondoo zangu;
if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21
Ikiwa nimewainulia mayatima mkono, Nilipoona msaada wangu langoni;
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22
Basi bega langu na lianguke kutoka mahali pake, Na mkono wangu uvunjike mfupani mwake.
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23
Kwani msiba utokao kwa Mungu ulikuwa na kitisho kwangu, Na kwa sababu ya ukuu wake sikuweza kufanya neno.
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24
Ikiwa nimeifanya dhahabu kuwa tumaini langu, Na kuiambia dhahabu safi, Wewe u tegemeo langu;
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25
Kama nilifurahi kwa kuwa mali yangu yalikuwa mengi, Na kwa sababu mkono wangu umepata vitu vingi;
if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26
Kama nililitazama jua lilipoangaza, Au mwezi ukiendelea katika kung'aa;
if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27
Na moyo wangu umeshawishwa kwa siri, Na midomo yangu imeubusu mkono wangu;
so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28
Hilo nalo lingekuwa uovu wa kuadhibiwa na waamuzi; Kwani ningemwambia uongo Mungu aliye juu.
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29
Kama nilifurahi kwa kuangamia kwake huyo aliyenichukia, Au kujitukuza alipopatikana na maovu;
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30
(Naam, sikukiacha kinywa changu kufanya dhambi Kwa kuutaka uhai wake kwa kuapiza);
I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31
Kama watu wa hemani mwangu hawakunena, Ni nani awezaye kumpata mtu asiyeshibishwa na yeye kwa nyama?
if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32
Mgeni hakulala njiani; Lakini nilimfungulia msafiri milango yangu;
but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33
Ikiwa kama mwanadamu nimeyafunika makosa yangu, Kwa kuuficha uovu wangu kifuani mwangu;
if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34
Kwa sababu niliwaogopa mkutano mkubwa, Na dharau la jamaa lilinitia hofu, Hata nilinyamaa kimya, nisitoke mlangoni-
because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35
Laiti ningekuwa na mtu wa kunisikia! (Tazama, sahihi yangu ni hii, Mwenyezi na anijibu); Laiti ningekuwa na hayo mashitaka yaliyoandikwa na adui yangu!
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36
Hakika ningeyachukua mabegani; Ningejifungia mfano wa kilemba.
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37
Ningemwambia hesabu ya hatua zangu Ningemkaribia kama vile mkuu.
I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38
Kama nchi yangu yalia juu yangu, Na matuta yake hulia pamoja;
if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39
Kama nimeyala matunda yake pasipo kulipa, Au kama nimewafanya wenyewe kupotewa na uhai;
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40
Miiba na imee badala ya ngano, Na magugu badala ya shayiri. Maneno ya Ayubu yamekoma hapa.
then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.