Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
“Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
