1
Tena Elihu akajibu na kusema,
Then Elihu continued:
2
Sikilizeni maneno yangu, enyi wenye hekima; Tegeni masikio kwangu, ninyi mlio na maarifa.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3
Kwa kuwa sikio huyajaribu maneno, Kama vile kaakaa lionjavyo chakula.
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4
Na tujichagulie yaliyo ya uelekevu; Na tujue wenyewe yaliyo mema.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5
Kwani Ayubu amesema, Mimi ni mwenye haki, Naye Mungu ameniondolea haki yangu;
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6
Nijapokuwa mwenye haki, nimehesabiwa kuwa mwongo; Jeraha yangu haiponyeki, nijapokuwa sina makosa.
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7
Je! Ni mtu gani mfano wa Ayubu, Anywaye mzaha kama maji?
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8
Atembeaye na hao watendao uovu, Na kwenda pamoja na watu wabaya.
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9
Kwa kuwa amenena, Haimfai mtu lo lote Kujifurahisha na Mungu.
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10
Kwa hiyo nisikilizeni, enyi wenye fahamu; Mungu asidhaniwe kutenda udhalimu; Wala Mwenyezi kufanya uovu.
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11
Kwani atamlipa binadamu kwa kazi yake, Naye atamfanya kila mtu kuona sawasawa na njia zake
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12
Naam, hakika, Mungu hatatenda mabaya, Wala Mwenyezi hatapotosha hukumu.
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13
Ni nani aliyemwagiza kuiangalia dunia? Au ni nani aliyemwekea ulimwengu huu wote?
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14
Kama akimwekea mtu moyo wake, Akijikusanyia roho yake na pumzi zake;
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15
Wenye mwili wote wataangamia pamoja, Nao wanadamu watarejea tena kuwa mavumbi.
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16
Ikiwa una ufahamu, sikia neno hili; Isikilize sauti ya maneno yangu.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17
Je! Atatawala mtu aichukiaye haki hata mmoja? Nawe, je! Utamhukumia mkosa aliye na haki na mwenye nguvu?
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18
Je! Inafaa kumwambia mfalme, Wewe u mwovu? Au kuwaambia wakuu, Ninyi ni wabaya?
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19
Sembuse huyo asiyependelea nyuso za wakuu, Wala hawajali matajiri kuliko maskini? Kwani wote ni kazi ya mikono yake,
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20
Hufa ghafula, hata usiku wa manane; Watu hutikisika na kwenda zao, Nao mashujaa huondolewa pasipo mkono wa mtu.
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21
Kwani macho yake ya juu ya njia za mtu, Naye huiona miendo yake yote.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22
Hapana weusi, wala hilo giza tupu, Wawezapo kujificha watendao udhalimu.
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23
Kwani yeye hana haja ya kumfikiria mtu zaidi, ili aende mbele za Mungu ahukumiwe.
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24
Yeye huwavunja-vunja mashujaa pasina kuwachunguza, Na kuwaweka wengine mahali pao.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25
Kwa sababu hiyo yeye huyatafiti matendo yao; Naye huwapindia usiku, wakaangamia.
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26
Yeye huwapiga kama watu wabaya Waziwazi mbele ya macho ya wengine;
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27
Kwa sababu walikengeuka, wasimwandame yeye, Wasikubali kuzishika njia zake hata moja;
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28
Hata wakafanya kilio cha maskini kumfikilia, Naye akasikia kilio cha hao wateswao.
They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29
Akitoa utulivu yeye, ni nani awezaye kuhukumia makosa? Akificha uso wake, ni nani awezaye kumtazama? Kama hufanyiwa taifa, au mtu mmoja, ni sawasawa;
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30
Kwamba huyo mpotovu asitawale, Pasiwe na wa kuwatega watu.
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31
Kwani kuna mtu aliyemwambia Mungu, Mimi nimevumilia kurudiwa, ingawa sikukosa;
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32
Nisiyoyaona nifundishe wewe; Kama nimefanya uovu sitafanya tena?
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33
Je! Malipo yake yatakuwa kama upendavyo wewe, hata ukayakataa? Kwani yakupasa wewe kuchagua, si mimi; Kwa sababu hiyo sema uyajuayo.
Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed Him? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34
Watu walio na akili wataniambia, Naam, kila mtu mwenye hekima anisikiaye;
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35
Huyo Ayubu amesema pasipo maarifa, Na maneno yake hayana hekima.
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36
Laiti Ayubu angejaribiwa hata mwisho, Kwa kuwa amejibu kama watu waovu.
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37
Kwani huongeza uasi juu ya dhambi zake, Apiga makofi kati yetu, Na kuongeza maneno yake kinyume cha Mungu.
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”