Job 21

1 Then Job answered:

1 Ndipo Ayubu akajibu:

2 “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.

2 “Yasikilizeni maneno yangu kwa makini; hii na iwe faraja mnayonipa mimi.

3 Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.

3 Nivumilieni ninapozungumza, nami nikishazungumza, endeleeni kunidhihaki.

4 Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?

4 “Je, kwani malalamiko yangu yanaelekezwa kwa mwanadamu? Kwa nini nisikose subira?

5 Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.

5 Niangalieni mkastaajabu; mkaweke mkono juu ya vinywa vyenu.

6 When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.

6 Ninapowaza juu ya hili, ninaogopa, nao mwili wangu unatetemeka.

7 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?

7 Kwa nini waovu wanaendelea kuishi, wakifikia umri wa uzee na kuendelea kuwa na nguvu?

8 Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.

8 Huwaona watoto wao wakithibitika wakiwa wamewazunguka, wazao wao mbele za macho yao.

9 Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.

9 Nyumba zao zi salama wala hakuna hofu; fimbo ya Mungu haiko juu yao.

10 Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.

10 Madume yao ya ngʼombe huvyaza bila kushindwa kamwe; ngʼombe wao huzaa wala hawaharibu mimba.

11 They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,

11 Huwatoa watoto wao nje kama kundi; wadogo wao huchezacheza.

12 singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.

12 Huimba nyimbo kwa matari na kwa kinubi, nao huifurahia sauti ya filimbi.

13 They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace.

13 Huitumia miaka yao katika mafanikio nao hushuka kaburini kwa amani.

14 Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.

14 Lakini humwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi!’ Hatuna haja ya kufahamu njia zako.

15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’

15 Mwenyezi ni nani hata tumtumikie? Tutapata faida gani kumwomba?

16 Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

16 Lakini kufanikiwa kwao hakupo mikononi mwao wenyewe, hivyo najitenga mbali na shauri la waovu.

17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?

17 “Lakini ni mara ngapi taa ya waovu huzimwa? Ni mara ngapi maafa huwajia, yale yawapatayo ambayo Mungu huwapangia katika hasira yake?

18 Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?

18 Ni mara ngapi huwa kama majani makavu mbele ya upepo, kama makapi yachukuliwayo na dhoruba?

19 It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.

19 Imesemekana, ‘Mungu huiweka akiba adhabu ya mtu kwa ajili ya wanawe.’ Mungu na amlipe mtu mwenyewe, ili apate kulijua!

20 Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.

20 Macho yake mwenyewe na yaone maangamizi yake; yeye na ainywe ghadhabu ya Mwenyezi.

21 For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?

21 Kwani anajali nini kuhusu jamaa anayoiacha nyuma, miezi yake aliyopangiwa ifikapo mwisho?

22 Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?

22 “Je, yuko mtu yeyote awezaye kumfundisha Mungu maarifa, iwapo yeye ndiye ahukumuye hata walio juu ya wote?

23 One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.

23 Mtu mmoja hufa akiwa na nguvu zake kamili, akiwa salama na mwenye raha kamili,

24 His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.

24 mwili wake ukiwa umenawiri, nayo mifupa yake ikiwa imejaa mafuta ndani yake.

25 Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.

25 Mtu mwingine hufa katika uchungu wa nafsi, akiwa hajafurahia kamwe jambo lolote zuri.

26 But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

26 Hao wote hulala mavumbini, nao mabuu huwafunika wote.

27 Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.

27 “Ninayajua kikamilifu yale mnayoyafikiri, mipango ambayo kwayo mngenitendea mabaya.

28 For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’

28 Mwasema, ‘Iko wapi sasa nyumba ya huyo mtu mkuu, mahema ambayo watu waovu walikaa?’

29 Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?

29 Je, hamkuwahi kuwauliza hao wanaosafiri? Je, hamkutafakari taarifa zao:

30 Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.

30 kwamba mtu mwovu huepushwa kutoka siku ya maafa, kwamba huokolewa kutoka siku ya ghadhabu?

31 Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?

31 Ni nani hulaumu matendo yake mbele ya uso wake? Ni nani ampatilizaye kwa yale aliyoyatenda?

32 He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.

32 Hupelekwa kaburini, nao ulinzi ukawekwa kwenye kaburi lake.

33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.

33 Udongo ulio bondeni ni mtamu kwake; watu wote watamfuata, nao umati wa watu usiohesabika umemtangulia.

34 So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

34 “Hivyo ninyi mnawezaje kunifariji kwa upuzi wenu? Hakuna kilichosalia cha majibu yenu isipokuwa uongo!”