Job 29
1 Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;
ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!
“Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
“Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
19 My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 [If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
