Job 29
1 And Job again took up his parable, and said:
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help 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 upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one 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.
