1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Palikuwa na mtu katika nchi ya Usi, jina lake alikuwa akiitwa Ayubu; mtu huyo alikuwa mkamilifu na mwelekevu, ni mmoja aliyemcha Mungu, na kuepukana na uovu.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
Kisha walizaliwa kwake wana saba, na binti watatu.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
Mali yake nayo yalikuwa ni kondoo elfu saba, na ngamia elfu tatu, na jozi za ng'ombe mia tano, na punda wake mia tano, na watu wa nyumbani wengi sana; basi hivi mtu huyo alikuwa ni mkuu sana kuliko watu wote wa upande wa mashariki.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Nao wanawe huenda na kufanya karamu katika nyumba ya kila mmoja wao kwa siku yake; nao wakatuma na kuwaita maumbu yao watatu ili waje kula na kunywa pamoja nao.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Basi ilikuwa, hapo hizo siku za karamu zao zilipokuwa zimetimia, Ayubu hutuma kwao akawatakasa, kisha akaamka asubuhi na mapema, na kusongeza sadaka za kuteketezwa kama hesabu yao wote ilivyokuwa; kwani Ayubu alisema, Yumkini kwamba hawa wanangu wamefanya dhambi, na kumkufuru Mungu mioyoni mwao. Ndivyo alivyofanya Ayubu sikuzote.
Job's Character
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Ilikuwa, siku moja ambayo hao wana wa Mungu walikwenda kujihudhurisha mbele za Bwana, Shetani naye akaenda kati yao.
7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
Bwana akamwuliza Shetani, Umetoka wapi wewe? Ndipo Shetani akamjibu Bwana, na kusema, Natoka katika kuzunguka-zunguka duniani, na katika kutembea huku na huku humo.
8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Kisha Bwana akamwuliza Shetani, Je! Umemwangalia huyo mtumishi wangu Ayubu? Kwa kuwa hapana mmoja aliye kama yeye duniani, mtu mkamilifu na mwelekevu, mwenye kumcha Mungu na kuepukana na uovu.
9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Ndipo Shetani akamjibu Bwana, na kusema, Je! Huyo Ayubu yuamcha Bwana bure?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Wewe hukumzingira kwa ukigo pande zote, pamoja na nyumba yake, na vitu vyote alivyo navyo? Kazi za mikono yake umezibarikia, nayo mali yake imeongezeka katika nchi.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Lakini nyosha mkono wako sasa, uyaguse hayo yote aliyo nayo, naye atakukufuru mbele za uso wako.
12 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Bwana akamwambia Shetani, Tazama, yote aliyo nayo yamo katika uwezo wako; lakini usinyoshe mkono wako juu yake yeye mwenyewe. Basi Shetani akatoka mbele za uso wa Bwana.
His Afflictions
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Ilitukia siku moja hao wanawe na binti zake walipokuwa wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa,
14 and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
mjumbe akamfikilia Ayubu na kumwambia, Hao ng'ombe walikuwa wakilima, na punda walikuwa wakilisha karibu nao;
15 and the Sabeans fell upon them , and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
mara Waseba wakawashambulia, wakawachukua wakaenda nao; naam, wamewaua hao watumishi kwa makali ya upanga, mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Moto wa Mungu umeanguka kutoka mbinguni na kuwateketeza kondoo, na wale watumishi, na kuwaangamiza; mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Wakaldayo walifanya vikosi vitatu, wakawaangukia ngamia, wakaenda nao, naam, wamewaua wale watumishi kwa makali ya upanga; mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
Huyo alipokuwa akali akinena, akatokea na mwingine, na kusema, Wanao na binti zako walikuwa wakila na kunywa divai katika nyumba ya ndugu yao mkubwa;
19 and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
mara, tazama, upepo wenye nguvu ukatoka pande za jangwani, ukaipiga hiyo nyumba pembe zake nne, nayo ikawaangukia hao vijana, nao wamekufa; na mimi peke yangu nimepona, mimi tu, kukuletea habari.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
Ndipo Ayubu akainuka, akalirarua joho lake, kisha akanyoa kichwa chake, na kuanguka chini, na kusujudia;
21 and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
akasema, Mimi nilitoka tumboni mwa mama yangu nili uchi, nami nitarudi tena huko uchi vilevile; Bwana alitoa, na Bwana ametwaa; jina la Bwana na libarikiwe.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Katika mambo hayo yote Ayubu hakufanya dhambi, wala hakumwazia Mungu kwa upumbavu.
