Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
“Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
