Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
Hiob toaa so se,
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
“Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
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.
bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Ao, nna a misii so no, bere a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fi,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
bere a na Otumfo no da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia no,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
bere a na nufusu mu srade afɔw mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsu maa me no.
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
“Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
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,
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wohu me nyinaa kamfo me,
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.
efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
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].
Onipa a na ɔrewu no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafo ani gyee wɔn koma mu.
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].
Mede trenee furaa sɛ mʼadurade; atɛntrenee yɛɛ me nkataso ne mʼabotiri.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifuraefo, ne anan maa mmubuafo.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
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.
Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
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].’
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
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].
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, efisɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yiye.
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].
Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
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.”
Mebɔɔ kwan maa wɔn na metenaa ase sɛ wɔn hene; metenaa ase sɛ ɔhene a ɔwɔ nʼasraafo mu; meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔkyekye agyaadwotwafo werɛ.
