Job 12

1 Then Job answered:

1 Ndipo Ayubu akajibu:

2 “Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!

2 “Bila shaka ninyi ndio watu, nayo hekima itakoma mtakapokufa!

3 But I also have a mind; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?

3 Lakini mimi ninao ufahamu kama ninyi; mimi si duni kwenu. Ni nani asiyejua mambo haya yote?

4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

4 “Nimekuwa mtu wa kuchekwa na rafiki zangu, ingawa nilimwita Mungu naye akanijibu: mimi ni mtu wa kuchekwa tu, ingawa ni mwadilifu na nisiye na hatia!

5 The one at ease scorns misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.

5 Wanadamu wakiwa katika utulivu huwa na dharau kwa wale wenye msiba kana kwamba ndiyo haki ya wale ambao miguu yao inateleza.

6 The tents of robbers are safe, and those who provoke God are secure—those who carry their god in their hands.

6 Hema za wanyangʼanyi hazisumbuliwi, wale wanaomghadhibisha Mungu wako salama: wale wamchukuao mungu wao mikononi mwao.

7 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you; ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you.

7 “Lakini ulizeni wanyama, nao watawafundisha, au ndege wa angani, nao watawaambia;

8 Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; let the fish of the sea inform you.

8 au zungumzeni na dunia, nayo itawafundisha, au acheni samaki wa baharini wawape taarifa.

9 Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?

9 Ni nani miongoni mwa hawa wote asiyejua kwamba mkono wa Bwana ndio uliofanya hili?

10 The life of every living thing is in His hand, as well as the breath of all mankind.

10 Mkononi mwake kuna uhai wa kila kiumbe, na pumzi ya wanadamu wote.

11 Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes its food?

11 Je, sikio haliyajaribu maneno kama vile ulimi uonjavyo chakula?

12 Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

12 Je, hekima haipatikani katikati ya wazee? Je, maisha marefu hayaleti ufahamu?

13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

13 “Hekima na nguvu ni vya Mungu; shauri na ufahamu ni vyake yeye.

14 What He tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man He imprisons cannot be released.

14 Kile anachokibomoa hakiwezi kujengeka tena; mtu aliyefungiwa naye hawezi kufunguliwa.

15 If He holds back the waters, they dry up, and if He releases them, they overwhelm the land.

15 Akizuia maji, huwa pana ukame; akiyaachia maji, huharibu nchi.

16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.

16 Kwake kuna nguvu na ushindi; adanganywaye na adanganyaye, wote wawili ni wake.

17 He leads counselors away barefoot and makes fools of judges.

17 Yeye huwaondoa washauri wakiwa wametekwa nyara, naye huwapumbaza wanaotoa maamuzi.

18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.

18 Huondoa pingu zilizofungwa na wafalme, na kuwafunga mishipi ya kiunoni.

19 He leads priests away barefoot and overthrows the established.

19 Huwaondoa makuhani wakiwa wametekwa nyara, na kuwaangusha waliojiimarisha muda mrefu.

20 He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.

20 Hunyamazisha midomo ya washauri wanaoaminika, na kuondoa busara ya wazee.

21 He pours out contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty.

21 Huwamwagia dharau wanaoheshimika, na kuwavua silaha wenye nguvu.

22 He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.

22 Hufunua mambo ya ndani ya gizani, na kuyaleta nuruni yale yaliyositirika sana.

23 He makes nations great and destroys them; He enlarges nations, then disperses them.

23 Huyafanya mataifa yatukuke na kuyaangamiza; hufanya mataifa kuwa makubwa, naye huyatawanya.

24 He deprives the earth’s leaders of reason and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.

24 Huwaondolea viongozi wa nchi akili zao; huwapeleka watangetange nyikani pasipo na njia.

25 They grope in the darkness without light; He makes them stagger like drunkards.

25 Hupapasa gizani pasipokuwa na mwanga; huwafanya wapepesuke kama walevi.