Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Job ni a dei lawk hah bout a patawp teh,
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
Oe ka loum tangcoung e a kum hoi thapa naw dawk bout kaawm haw pawiteh, Cathut ni na kountouknae a hnin patetlah
3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
ka lû dawk hmaiim a ang teh, a angnae dawk hoi hmonae ka tapuet thai navah,
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Ka roung takhangnae a tueng, ka im dawk Cathut hoi kâhuikonae tueng, hatnae patetlah bout kaawm haw pawiteh,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
Athakasaipounge, kai koe na okhai e hoi, ka canaw ka teng vah petkâkalup lah ao awh navah,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
Ka ceinae lamthung dawk maito sanutui a lawng, lungsongpui ni kai hanelah satui pou a lawng sak navah,
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
khopui kâennae longkha koe ouk ka cei navah, thongma dawk ouk ka tahungnae koe ka ceikhai navah,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
Thoundounnaw ni na hmu awh teh, a kâhro awh. Kacuenaw ni a thaw awh teh a kangdue awh.
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
Bawinaw ni lawk dei hane pahni a cakuep awh. A kut hoi pahni a tabuem awh.
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
Bawinaw hai lawkkamuem lah duem ao awh teh, a lai teh adangka dawk rapkâbet pouh.
11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
A hnâ ni a thai torei teh, yawhawi na poe awh. A mit hoi a hmu awh torei teh na panuikhai awh.
12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
Bangkongtetpawiteh, karoedengnaw hah ka rungngang teh na pa hoi kabawmkung ka tawn hoeh e naw hah ouk ka kabawp.
13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
Kahmatkatanaw e yawhawinaw hah, ka lathueng vah a pha. Lahmainaw e lungthin hah lunghawinae la ka sak sak.
14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
Lannae hah ka khohna teh, ka lannae teh angkidung hoi bawilakhung patetlah ao.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Mitdawnnaw hanelah mit lah ka o teh, khokkhemnaw hanelah khok lah ka o.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Karoedengnaw, hanelah na pa lah ka o teh, ka panue hoeh e naw e lawk hai ka ngai pouh.
17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
Tamikathoutnaw e a no hah ka khoe pouh teh, a hâ hoi a kei e hah ka rasa pouh.
18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
Hottelah ka tabu thung ka due vaiteh, ka hninnaw teh sadi patetlah ka pung sak han.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Tui aonae koe vah ka tangphanaw ka payang vaiteh, ka kangnaw dawk karum khodai tadamtui ao han.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Ka bawilennae teh ka thung vah bout a katha teh, ka pala teh ka kut dawk a tha hoi a kawi han.
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
Taminaw ni na ring teh na rabui awh. Ka khokhangnae dawk duem ao awh.
22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
Ka dei hnukkhu hoi banghai dei awh hoeh toe. Ka dei e teh ahnimouh koe tadamtui patetlah a bo.
23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
Khotui patetlah na ring awh teh, a hnukteng e kho ka rak e patetlah kakawpoung lah pahni a ang awh.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Ka panuikhai pawiteh yuem awh mahoeh. Ka minhmai a angnae teh, hmonae lah awm sak awh hoeh.
25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
Ahnimouh hane lamthung ka rawi teh, kahrawikung patetlah ka tahung. Hottelah ransanaw thung vah siangpahrang patetlah kho ka sak. A lung ka mathoutnaw lungpahawi e patetlah ka o.
