Hiob 29
1 Hiob yi eƒe nuƒoƒo dzi be,
Job went on speaking.
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,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 esi eƒe akaɖi klẽ ɖe nye ta dzi eye eƒe kekeli na mezɔ to blukɔ tsiɖitsiɖi me!
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 O, nenye ɖe wòanɔ nam abe nye lãmesẽŋkekewo me ene, esi kadodo kple Mawu kplikplikpli na wòyra nye aƒe,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 esi Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ganɔ kplim ko eye vinyewo ƒo xlãm,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 esi nye toƒe nye notsi kpeke ɖeɖe eye amitimi ɖuɖu bababa tso agakpe me nam.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 “Ne meyi dua ƒe agbo nu, henɔ anyi ɖe zikpui dzi gli, le dua ƒe ablɔme la,
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 ɖekakpuiawo kpɔam, heƒoa asa nam eye ame tsitsiwo tsona ɖe tsitrenu,
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 dumegãwo tɔna ne wole nu ƒom hetsɔa asi ɖoa nu.
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 Gbɔgblɔ buna ɖe ame ŋkutawo eye woƒe aɖe léna ɖe woƒe nu me.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Ame sia ame si ɖo tom la kafuam eye ame siwo kpɔm la ƒoa nu nyui tso ŋutinye
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 elabena mexɔna na hiãtɔ siwo le ɣli dom be woakpe ɖe yewo ŋu kple tsyɔ̃evi si si kpeɖeŋutɔ mele o.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Ame si le kukum la ƒe yayra vaa dzinye eye menana ahosi ƒe dzi kpɔa dzidzɔ.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Metsɔ dzɔdzɔenyenye do abe awu ene eye nuteƒewɔwɔ nye nye awu ʋlaya kple tablanu.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Menye ŋku na ŋkuagbãtɔ kple afɔ na tekunɔ.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Menye tɔ na hiãtɔwo eye mexɔa nya ɖe amedzrowo nu.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Meŋea tsyo na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye meɖea nu si woda adzoe la le woƒe aɖutame.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 “Mebu be, ‘Maku ɖe nye ŋutɔ nye aƒe me, nye ŋkekewo asɔ gbɔ abe ke ene.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Nye kewo aƒo ɖe to, ade tsi gbɔ eye zãmu adza ɖe nye alɔwo dzi zã blibo la.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Nye ŋutikɔkɔe anɔ yeye zum ɣe sia ɣi le ŋunye eye dati anɔ yeye ɖaa le asinyeme.’
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 “Amewo ɖoa tom henɔa nye asinu kpɔm, nɔa lalam na nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo le ɖoɖoezizi me.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Ne meƒo nu la, womegaƒoa nu o eye nye nyawo gena ɖe woƒe towo me bɔlɔɔ.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
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 waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Womexɔnɛ sena ne meko nu na wo o, nye mo ƒe kekeli nye nu xɔasi na wo.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
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 decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
