Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over 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 around me;
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-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 arose and stood.
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who 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 heart of the widow to sing for joy.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength in my hand.”
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
