Job 29
1 Job ni a dei lawk hah bout a patawp teh,
Job spoke again,
2 Oe ka loum tangcoung e a kum hoi thapa naw dawk bout kaawm haw pawiteh, Cathut ni na kountouknae a hnin patetlah
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 ka lû dawk hmaiim a ang teh, a angnae dawk hoi hmonae ka tapuet thai navah,
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 Ka roung takhangnae a tueng, ka im dawk Cathut hoi kâhuikonae tueng, hatnae patetlah bout kaawm haw pawiteh,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 Athakasaipounge, kai koe na okhai e hoi, ka canaw ka teng vah petkâkalup lah ao awh navah,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 Ka ceinae lamthung dawk maito sanutui a lawng, lungsongpui ni kai hanelah satui pou a lawng sak navah,
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 khopui kâennae longkha koe ouk ka cei navah, thongma dawk ouk ka tahungnae koe ka ceikhai navah,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Thoundounnaw ni na hmu awh teh, a kâhro awh. Kacuenaw ni a thaw awh teh a kangdue awh.
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Bawinaw ni lawk dei hane pahni a cakuep awh. A kut hoi pahni a tabuem awh.
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Bawinaw hai lawkkamuem lah duem ao awh teh, a lai teh adangka dawk rapkâbet pouh.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 A hnâ ni a thai torei teh, yawhawi na poe awh. A mit hoi a hmu awh torei teh na panuikhai awh.
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 Bangkongtetpawiteh, karoedengnaw hah ka rungngang teh na pa hoi kabawmkung ka tawn hoeh e naw hah ouk ka kabawp.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Kahmatkatanaw e yawhawinaw hah, ka lathueng vah a pha. Lahmainaw e lungthin hah lunghawinae la ka sak sak.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Lannae hah ka khohna teh, ka lannae teh angkidung hoi bawilakhung patetlah ao.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Mitdawnnaw hanelah mit lah ka o teh, khokkhemnaw hanelah khok lah ka o.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Karoedengnaw, hanelah na pa lah ka o teh, ka panue hoeh e naw e lawk hai ka ngai pouh.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Tamikathoutnaw e a no hah ka khoe pouh teh, a hâ hoi a kei e hah ka rasa pouh.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Hottelah ka tabu thung ka due vaiteh, ka hninnaw teh sadi patetlah ka pung sak han.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Tui aonae koe vah ka tangphanaw ka payang vaiteh, ka kangnaw dawk karum khodai tadamtui ao han.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Ka bawilennae teh ka thung vah bout a katha teh, ka pala teh ka kut dawk a tha hoi a kawi han.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Taminaw ni na ring teh na rabui awh. Ka khokhangnae dawk duem ao awh.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Ka dei hnukkhu hoi banghai dei awh hoeh toe. Ka dei e teh ahnimouh koe tadamtui patetlah a bo.
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 Khotui patetlah na ring awh teh, a hnukteng e kho ka rak e patetlah kakawpoung lah pahni a ang awh.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Ka panuikhai pawiteh yuem awh mahoeh. Ka minhmai a angnae teh, hmonae lah awm sak awh hoeh.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Ahnimouh hane lamthung ka rawi teh, kahrawikung patetlah ka tahung. Hottelah ransanaw thung vah siangpahrang patetlah kho ka sak. A lung ka mathoutnaw lungpahawi e patetlah ka o.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
