Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Mebɔɔ ɛkwan maa wɔn na metenaa ase sɛ wɔn ɔhene; metenaa ase sɛ ɔhene a ɔwɔ nʼakodɔm mu; meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔkyekyere agyaadwotwafoɔ werɛ.
