Job 29
1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
2 “Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
“Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
3 when his lamp shone on my head, and 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
5 when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
7 when I went out to the city gate, 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. The aged rose up and stood.
abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,
Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
12 because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him,
kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on 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 justice 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 to the lame.
Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
16 I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
18 Then I said, ‘I will die in my own house, I will count 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 is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
21 “Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
“Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
22 After my words they didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
