Job 29

1 And Job continued his discourse:

1 Ayubu akaendelea na hoja yake, akasema:

2 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

2 “Tazama jinsi ninavyoitamani miezi iliyopita, zile siku ambazo Mungu alikuwa akinilinda,

3 when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,

3 wakati taa yake iliniangazia kichwani changu, na kwa mwanga wake Mungu nikapita katikati ya giza!

4 when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

4 Natamani siku zile nilizokuwa katika ustawi wangu, wakati urafiki wa Mungu wa ndani ulipoibariki nyumba yangu,

5 when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

5 wakati Mwenyezi alikuwa pamoja nami, nao watoto wangu walikuwa wamenizunguka,

6 when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

6 wakati njia yangu ilikuwa imenyweshewa siagi, nao mwamba ukanimiminia vijito vya mafuta ya zeituni.

7 When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,

7 “Wakati nilipokwenda kwenye lango la mji na kuketi katika kiwanja,

8 the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

8 vijana waliniona wakakaa kando, nao wazee walioketi wakasimama;

9 The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

9 wakuu wakaacha kuzungumza na kuziba vinywa vyao kwa mikono yao;

10 The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

10 wenye vyeo wakanyamazishwa, nazo ndimi zao zikagandamana na makaakaa ya vinywa vyao.

11 For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,

11 Yeyote aliyenisikia alinena mema juu yangu, nao walioniona walinisifu,

12 because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.

12 kwa sababu nilimwokoa maskini aliyeomba msaada, naye yatima aliyekuwa hana wa kumsaidia.

13 The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

13 Mtu aliyekuwa karibu kufa alinibariki, nami niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba.

14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

14 Niliivaa haki kama vazi langu; uadilifu ulikuwa joho langu na kilemba changu.

15 I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.

15 Nilikuwa macho ya kipofu na miguu kwa kiwete.

16 I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.

16 Nilikuwa baba kwa mhitaji; nilimtetea mgeni.

17 I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

17 Niliyavunja meno makali ya waovu, na kuwapokonya wahanga kwenye meno yao.

18 So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.

18 “Nikafikiri, ‘Nitafia katika nyumba yangu mwenyewe, nazo siku zangu zitakuwa nyingi kama chembechembe za mchanga.

19 My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

19 Mizizi yangu itafika mpaka kwenye maji, nao umande utakaa juu ya matawi yangu usiku kucha.

20 My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’

20 Utukufu wangu utabakia kuwa mpya ndani yangu, upinde wangu daima utaendelea kuwa mpya mkononi mwangu.’

21 Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

21 “Watu walinisikiliza kwa tumaini, wakingojea ushauri wangu kwa utulivu.

22 After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.

22 Baada ya mimi kuzungumza, hawakusema zaidi; maneno yangu yaliingia masikioni mwao kwa makini.

23 They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

23 Waliningojea kama manyunyu ya mvua na kuyapokea maneno yangu kama ardhi inyonyavyo mvua ya vuli.

24 If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.

24 Walipokata tamaa niliwaonyesha uso wa furaha; nuru ya uso wangu ilikuwa ya thamani kwao.

25 I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.

25 Niliwachagulia njia na kukaa kama mkuu wao; niliishi kama mfalme katikati ya majeshi yake; nikawa kama yeye anayewafariji waombolezaji.