Job 29
1 So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
4 As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
15 I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.
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.
