Job 29
1 And Job again took up his parable, and said:
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
“Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
