Job 29
1 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 shone on 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 ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 when Shaddai was yet with me, and my children were around 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 out streams of oil for me,
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The princes refrained from 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 stuck 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 commended 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 who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on 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 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 to the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 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 in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 "Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 After my words they did not speak again. My speech fell on them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts 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.
