Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over 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 around me;
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-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 arose and stood.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who 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 heart of the widow to sing for joy.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him I knew not I searched out;
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 And I broke the teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength in my hand.”
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
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.
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.
