Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Ayub nomedo wuoyo kawacho niya,
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
“Yaye, mad ngʼato dwoka e ndalona machon kendo kinde mane Nyasaye orita maber,
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 en koda kuonde duto kendo ka lerne ne menyona kuonde motimo mudho mane awuothe!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Ee, mano kaka agombo ndalogo mane pod ategno, kinde mane Nyasaye gwedho oda nikech ne en osiepna,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
ma en ndalono ma Jehova Nyasaye Maratego ne pod ni koda kendo nyithinda noketa diere,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
ne en ndalo ma yorega ne dhi maber kendo yiende mag zeituni ne nyak maber.
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
“Kindeno kane adonjo gie ranga dala mi abet e koma ei paw bura,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
to yawuowi ne weyona yo ka onena to jodongo to ne oana malo.
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
Jotend ogendini ne weyo wuoyo, kendo negilingʼ thi ka giumo dhogi.
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
Ruodhi kane onena to ne wuoyo gi dwol mapiny kendo onge ngʼama ne nyalo winjo gima negiwacho.
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,
Ngʼato angʼata mane owinja ne loso maber kuoma, kendo joma nonena ne pwoya,
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.
nikech ne akonyo joma odhier mane ywak ka dwaro kony, kod joma onge wuonegi mane onge gi joma dikonygi.
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].
Ngʼama ne chiegni tho nogwedha; kendo namiyo chuny dhako ma chwore otho duogo mi ower gi mor.
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].
Arwako tim makare kod adiera ka lepa.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Ne abedo wangʼ muofni kendo tiende pudhe.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Ne abedo wuon jochan; kendo ne akawo chandruok joma welo.
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.
Ne aketho teko mar joma thiro ji mi agologi e lwet joma dwaro hinyogi.
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].’
“Ne aparo e chunya ni, ‘Tho biro kawa mos ka adak maber e dalana, kendo ka hika mae pinyni oniangʼ,
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Achalo gi yath, madongo e bath aora madongo ka ngʼich nikech tiendene ochwo pi kendo thoo biro bedo e bedena gotieno.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Huma mara biro siko kalandore kendo tekra nosiki!’
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
“Ji ne chikona itgi ka geno konyruok mathoth, negirito rieko mawuok e dhoga ka gilingʼ mos.
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].
Onge ngʼama ne loso bangʼa; wechena ne lwar e itgi mos ka ngʼidho.
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].
Ne girita ka joma rito koth ndalo oro, kendo negimor gi wechena mana ka joma rito kodh chwiri.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Kane abwonjo kodgi to ne amako dhogi; kendo ler mane rieny koa e lela wangʼa, ne morogi ahinya.
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.”
An ema ne anyisogi yo monego gilu kendo nabedo kaka ruodhgi; ne achalo ruoth e dier jokedo mage; bende ne achalo ngʼat mahoyo joma ywak.”
