Job 29
1 Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;
ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 [If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
Mebɔɔ ɛkwan maa wɔn na metenaa ase sɛ wɔn ɔhene; metenaa ase sɛ ɔhene a ɔwɔ nʼakodɔm mu; meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔkyekyere agyaadwotwafoɔ werɛ.
