Job 29
1 And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk in 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 abundance, when the confidence 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, when my servants stood round about me;
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
“Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, 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 the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
15 Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
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 wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
