Hiob 29
1 Hiob yi eƒe nuƒoƒo dzi be,
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 “O, ale si medi vevie be wòanɔ nam abe ale si wònɔ le ɣleti siwo va yi me la ene, le ŋkeke siwo me Mawu kpɔ tanye,
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 esi eƒe akaɖi klẽ ɖe nye ta dzi eye eƒe kekeli na mezɔ to blukɔ tsiɖitsiɖi me!
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 O, nenye ɖe wòanɔ nam abe nye lãmesẽŋkekewo me ene, esi kadodo kple Mawu kplikplikpli na wòyra nye aƒe,
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 esi Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ganɔ kplim ko eye vinyewo ƒo xlãm,
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 esi nye toƒe nye notsi kpeke ɖeɖe eye amitimi ɖuɖu bababa tso agakpe me nam.
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 “Ne meyi dua ƒe agbo nu, henɔ anyi ɖe zikpui dzi gli, le dua ƒe ablɔme la,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 ɖekakpuiawo kpɔam, heƒoa asa nam eye ame tsitsiwo tsona ɖe tsitrenu,
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 dumegãwo tɔna ne wole nu ƒom hetsɔa asi ɖoa nu.
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 Gbɔgblɔ buna ɖe ame ŋkutawo eye woƒe aɖe léna ɖe woƒe nu me.
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Ame sia ame si ɖo tom la kafuam eye ame siwo kpɔm la ƒoa nu nyui tso ŋutinye
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 elabena mexɔna na hiãtɔ siwo le ɣli dom be woakpe ɖe yewo ŋu kple tsyɔ̃evi si si kpeɖeŋutɔ mele o.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 Ame si le kukum la ƒe yayra vaa dzinye eye menana ahosi ƒe dzi kpɔa dzidzɔ.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 Metsɔ dzɔdzɔenyenye do abe awu ene eye nuteƒewɔwɔ nye nye awu ʋlaya kple tablanu.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 Menye ŋku na ŋkuagbãtɔ kple afɔ na tekunɔ.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 Menye tɔ na hiãtɔwo eye mexɔa nya ɖe amedzrowo nu.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Meŋea tsyo na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye meɖea nu si woda adzoe la le woƒe aɖutame.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 “Mebu be, ‘Maku ɖe nye ŋutɔ nye aƒe me, nye ŋkekewo asɔ gbɔ abe ke ene.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 Nye kewo aƒo ɖe to, ade tsi gbɔ eye zãmu adza ɖe nye alɔwo dzi zã blibo la.
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 Nye ŋutikɔkɔe anɔ yeye zum ɣe sia ɣi le ŋunye eye dati anɔ yeye ɖaa le asinyeme.’
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 “Amewo ɖoa tom henɔa nye asinu kpɔm, nɔa lalam na nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo le ɖoɖoezizi me.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 Ne meƒo nu la, womegaƒoa nu o eye nye nyawo gena ɖe woƒe towo me bɔlɔɔ.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 Wonɔa lalayem abe ale si wolalana na tsidzadza ene eye woxɔa nye nyawo dea wo ɖokui me abe ale si wonoa kelemetsi ene.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Womexɔnɛ sena ne meko nu na wo o, nye mo ƒe kekeli nye nu xɔasi na wo.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Metiaa mɔ si woato la na wo, menɔa wo dome abe woƒe tatɔ ene eye menɔa wo dome abe woƒe fia le eƒe aʋakɔwo dome ene. Menɔna abe ame si faa akɔ na konyifalawo ene.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
