Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Yobo akobaki koloba:
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
« Ah! Soki nakokaki kozala lisusu ndenge nazalaki na basanza oyo eleki, ndenge nazalaki na mikolo oyo Nzambe azalaki kobatela ngai,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
tango mwinda na Ye ezalaki kongenga na moto na ngai, mpe tango, na pole na Ye, nazalaki kotambola kati na molili.
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Ah! Soki nakokaki kozala lisusu ndenge nazalaki na mikolo oyo nazalaki nanu na makasi, tango bolingo ya Nzambe ezalaki kopambola ndako na ngai,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
tango Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso azalaki nanu elongo na ngai bana mibali na ngai bazingelaki ngai,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
tango nzela na ngai etondisamaki na miliki mpe libanga ezalaki kosopa mafuta ya olive mpo na ngai!
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
Tango nazalaki kokende na ekuke ya mboka mpe nazalaki kotia kiti na ngai na esika oyo bato ebele bakutanaka,
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
bilenge bazalaki komona ngai mpe bazalaki kobombama, mibange bazalaki kotelema,
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
bakambi bazalaki kozanga maloba mpe kozipa minoko na bango na maboko,
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
bato ya lokumu bazalaki kokitisa mingongo na bango mpe lolemo na bango ezalaki kokangama na minoko na bango.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Moto nyonso oyo azalaki koyoka ngai azalaki koloba ete nazali moto ya esengo, mpe bato nyonso oyo bazalaki komona ngai bazalaki kotatola mpo na ngai;
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
pamba te nazalaki kosunga babola oyo bazalaki kosenga lisungi, mpe mwana etike oyo azangi moto oyo akosunga ye.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Moto oyo akomaki pene ya kokufa azalaki kopambola ngai, mpe nazalaki kopesa esengo na motema ya mwasi oyo akufisa mobali.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Nazalaki kolata bosembo lokola elamba; bosembo ezalaki elamba na ngai mpe kitendi na ngai ya kokanga na moto.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Nazalaki miso ya mokufi miso mpe makolo ya mokakatani;
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
nazalaki tata ya moto oyo akelela, nazalaki kobundela moto oyo nayebi te;
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
nabukaki mbanga ya moto mabe mpe nabotolaki bato oyo akangaki na minu na ye.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
Nazalaki kokanisa: ‹ Nakokufa kati na ndako na ngai moko sima na mikolo ebele lokola zelo.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Misisa na ngai ekoluka mayi, mpe mayi oyo ezalaka na matiti ekovanda butu mobimba na bitape na ngai.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Lokumu na ngai ekozongisela ngai esengo, ata tolotolo ekokoma ya sika na loboko na ngai. ›
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
Bato bazalaki koyoka ngai na bokebi, bazalaki na kimia mpo na koyoka toli na ngai.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Sima na ngai koloba, bazalaki na liloba ya kozongisa te; maloba na ngai ezalaki kokota na esengo na matoyi na bango.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Bazalaki kozela ngai ndenge bazelaka mvula, mpe bazalaki komela maloba na ngai lokola mvula ya suka.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Soki nasekisi bango, bazalaki kondima te; kongenga ya elongi na ngai ezalaki na motuya mpo na bango.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Naponaki nzela mpo na bango mpe navandaki lokola mokonzi na bango; nazalaki kokonza bango lokola mokonzi kati na mampinga na ye, nazalaki lokola moto oyo azalaki kolendisa bato ya mawa. »
