Job 22

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

1 Ndipo Elifazi Mtemani akajibu:

2 “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?

2 “Je, mwanadamu aweza kuwa wa faida kwa Mungu? Je, hata mtu mwenye hekima aweza kumfaidi?

3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?

3 Je, Mwenyezi angefurahia nini kama ungekuwa mwadilifu? Au je, yeye angepata faida gani kama njia zako zingekuwa kamilifu?

4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?

4 “Je, ni kwa ajili ya utaua wako ndiyo maana anakukemea na kuleta mashtaka dhidi yako?

5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?

5 Je, uovu wako si mkuu? Dhambi zako si hazina mwisho?

6 For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.

6 Umedai dhamana kwa ndugu zako bila sababu; umewavua watu nguo zao, ukawaacha uchi.

7 You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,

7 Hukumpa maji aliyechoka, nawe ulimnyima chakula mwenye njaa,

8 while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.

8 ingawa ulikuwa mtu mwenye uwezo ukimiliki nchi: mtu uliyeheshimiwa, ukiishi ndani yake.

9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.

9 Umewafukuza wajane mikono mitupu na kuzivunja nguvu za yatima.

10 Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;

10 Ndiyo sababu mitego imekuzunguka pande zote, hatari ya ghafula inakutia hofu,

11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

11 ndiyo sababu ni giza sana huwezi kuona, tena ndiyo sababu mafuriko ya maji yamekufunika.

12 Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!

12 “Je, Mungu hayuko katika mbingu za juu? Juu kuliko nyota zilizo juu sana!

13 Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?

13 Hivyo wewe wasema, ‘Mungu anajua nini?’ Je, yeye huhukumu katika giza kama hilo?

14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’

14 Mawingu mazito ni pazia lake, hivyo hatuoni sisi atembeapo juu ya anga la dunia.

15 Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?

15 Je, utaifuata njia ya zamani, ambayo watu waovu waliikanyaga?

16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.

16 Waliondolewa kabla ya wakati wao, misingi yao ikachukuliwa na mafuriko.

17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’

17 Walimwambia Mungu, ‘Tuache sisi! Huyo Mwenyezi aweza kutufanyia nini?’

18 But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

18 Lakini ndiye alizijaza nyumba zao na vitu vizuri, hivyo ninajitenga mbali na mashauri ya waovu.

19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:

19 “Wenye haki wanaona maangamizi yao na kufurahi, nao wasio na hatia huwadhihaki, wakisema,

20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’

20 ‘Hakika adui zetu wameangamizwa, nao moto umeteketeza mali zao.’

21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.

21 “Mjue sana Mungu ili uwe na amani, ndipo mema yatakapokujia.

22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.

22 Uyapokee mafundisho toka kinywani mwake, na maneno yake uyaweke moyoni mwako.

23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents

23 Kama ukimrudia Mwenyezi, utarudishwa upya: Kama ukiuondoa uovu uwe mbali na hema lako,

24 and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,

24 kama dhahabu yako ukiihesabu kama mavumbi, dhahabu yako ya Ofiri kama miamba ya mabondeni,

25 then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.

25 ndipo Mwenyezi atakuwa dhahabu yako, naye atakuwa fedha yako iliyo bora.

26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.

26 Hakika ndipo utakapojifurahisha kwa Mwenyezi, nawe utamwinulia Mungu uso wako.

27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.

27 Utamwomba yeye, naye atakusikia, nawe utazitimiza nadhiri zako.

28 Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.

28 Utakusudia jambo nalo litatendeka, nao mwanga utaangazia njia zako.

29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.

29 Watu watakaposhushwa, nawe ukasema, ‘Wainue!’ ndipo atamwokoa aliyevunjika moyo.

30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

30 Atamwokoa hata yule ambaye ana hatia, ataokolewa kwa sababu ya usafi wa mikono yako.”