Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Iyyoob haasaa isaa itti fufee akkana jedhe:
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“Ani jiʼoota darban, bara Waaqni na eege sana akkamin hawwa ture,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
yeroo ibsaan isaa mataa koo irratti ife, anis ifa isaatiin dukkana keessa darbee yeroon deeme,
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
yeroo ani nama jabaa ture, yeroo michummaan Waaqaa mana koo eebbise,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
yeroo Waaqni Waan Hunda Dandaʼu na wajjin ture, yeroo ijoolleen koo naannoo koo turan,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
yeroo daandiin koo dhadhaadhaan jiifame, yeroo kattaanis laga zayitii ejersaa naaf yaase.
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
“Yeroo ani gara karra magaalaatti gad baʼee oobdii sabaa keessa barcuma koo irra taaʼe,
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
dargaggeeyyiin na arganii karaa irraa goru; maanguddoonnis kaʼanii dhaabatu ture;
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
hangafoonni sabaa dubbii afaanitti qabatanii harka isaanii afaan irra kaaʼatu ture;
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
sagaleen namoota bebeekamoo hin dhagaʼamu ture; arrabni isaaniis laagaa isaaniitti ni maxxana ture.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Namni na dhagaʼu kam iyyuu na jaja; kanneen na arganis na galateeffatu ture;
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
ani hiyyeessa gargaarsa barbaachaaf booʼu, nama abbaa hin qabne kan namni isa gargaaru tokko iyyuu hin jirre fureeraatii.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Namni duʼuu gaʼe na eebbiseera; ani akka garaan haadha hiyyeessaa gammachuun ililchus godheera.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Qajeelummaa akka uffata kootti uffadheera; murtiin qajeelaan immoo uffata koo fi marata mataa koo ture.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Ani nama jaameef ija, okkolaaf immoo miilla taʼeen ture.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
Ani rakkataadhaaf abbaan ture; nama ormaatiif illee nan falman ture.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Qarriffaa nama hamaa nan cabse; waan inni qabates afaan isaatii buuseera.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
“Ani akkana jedheen yaadee ture; ‘Manuma koo keessattin duʼa; barri jireenya kootiis akkuma cirrachaa baayʼata.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Hiddi koo gad fagaatee bishaan qaqqaba; fixeensis halkan guutuu dameewwan koo irra bula.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Ulfinni koo na keessatti haaraa taʼee jiraata; iddaanis harka koo keessatti haaromfama.’
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
“Namoonni calʼisanii gorsa koo eeggachaa abdiidhaan na dhaggeeffatu.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Erga ani dubbadhee booddee isaan deebiʼanii hin dubbanne; dubbiin koos akka gaariitti gurra isaanii seena ture.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Isaan akkuma nama bokkaa eeggatuutti na eeggatan; dubbii koos akkuma bokkaa arfaasaa dhugan.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Yeroo ani isaaniif seequtti isaan hin amanne; ifni fuula koos isaaniif waan guddaa ture.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Ani karaa isaaniif filee akka hangafa isaaniitti nan taaʼe; akka mootii loltoota isaa gidduu jiraatuutti nan jiraadhe; ani akka nama warra booʼan jajjabeessuus taʼe.
