Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Iyyoob haasaa isaa itti fufee akkana jedhe:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
“Ani jiʼoota darban, bara Waaqni na eege sana akkamin hawwa ture,
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.
yeroo ibsaan isaa mataa koo irratti ife, anis ifa isaatiin dukkana keessa darbee yeroon deeme,
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
yeroo ani nama jabaa ture, yeroo michummaan Waaqaa mana koo eebbise,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
yeroo Waaqni Waan Hunda Dandaʼu na wajjin ture, yeroo ijoolleen koo naannoo koo turan,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
yeroo daandiin koo dhadhaadhaan jiifame, yeroo kattaanis laga zayitii ejersaa naaf yaase.
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
“Yeroo ani gara karra magaalaatti gad baʼee oobdii sabaa keessa barcuma koo irra taaʼe,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
dargaggeeyyiin na arganii karaa irraa goru; maanguddoonnis kaʼanii dhaabatu ture;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
hangafoonni sabaa dubbii afaanitti qabatanii harka isaanii afaan irra kaaʼatu ture;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
sagaleen namoota bebeekamoo hin dhagaʼamu ture; arrabni isaaniis laagaa isaaniitti ni maxxana ture.
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,
Namni na dhagaʼu kam iyyuu na jaja; kanneen na arganis na galateeffatu ture;
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.
ani hiyyeessa gargaarsa barbaachaaf booʼu, nama abbaa hin qabne kan namni isa gargaaru tokko iyyuu hin jirre fureeraatii.
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].
Namni duʼuu gaʼe na eebbiseera; ani akka garaan haadha hiyyeessaa gammachuun ililchus godheera.
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].
Qajeelummaa akka uffata kootti uffadheera; murtiin qajeelaan immoo uffata koo fi marata mataa koo ture.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Ani nama jaameef ija, okkolaaf immoo miilla taʼeen ture.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Ani rakkataadhaaf abbaan ture; nama ormaatiif illee nan falman ture.
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.
Qarriffaa nama hamaa nan cabse; waan inni qabates afaan isaatii buuseera.
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].’
“Ani akkana jedheen yaadee ture; ‘Manuma koo keessattin duʼa; barri jireenya kootiis akkuma cirrachaa baayʼata.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Hiddi koo gad fagaatee bishaan qaqqaba; fixeensis halkan guutuu dameewwan koo irra bula.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Ulfinni koo na keessatti haaraa taʼee jiraata; iddaanis harka koo keessatti haaromfama.’
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
“Namoonni calʼisanii gorsa koo eeggachaa abdiidhaan na dhaggeeffatu.
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].
Erga ani dubbadhee booddee isaan deebiʼanii hin dubbanne; dubbiin koos akka gaariitti gurra isaanii seena ture.
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].
Isaan akkuma nama bokkaa eeggatuutti na eeggatan; dubbii koos akkuma bokkaa arfaasaa dhugan.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Yeroo ani isaaniif seequtti isaan hin amanne; ifni fuula koos isaaniif waan guddaa ture.
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.”
Ani karaa isaaniif filee akka hangafa isaaniitti nan taaʼe; akka mootii loltoota isaa gidduu jiraatuutti nan jiraadhe; ani akka nama warra booʼan jajjabeessuus taʼe.
