Hiob 29
1 Hiob yi eƒe nuƒoƒo dzi be,
And Job again took up his measure, 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,
Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
3 esi eƒe akaɖi klẽ ɖe nye ta dzi eye eƒe kekeli na mezɔ to blukɔ tsiɖitsiɖi me!
When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
4 O, nenye ɖe wòanɔ nam abe nye lãmesẽŋkekewo me ene, esi kadodo kple Mawu kplikplikpli na wòyra nye aƒe,
As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
5 esi Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ganɔ kplim ko eye vinyewo ƒo xlãm,
While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
6 esi nye toƒe nye notsi kpeke ɖeɖe eye amitimi ɖuɖu bababa tso agakpe me nam.
When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
7 “Ne meyi dua ƒe agbo nu, henɔ anyi ɖe zikpui dzi gli, le dua ƒe ablɔme la,
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
8 ɖekakpuiawo kpɔam, heƒoa asa nam eye ame tsitsiwo tsona ɖe tsitrenu,
Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
9 dumegãwo tɔna ne wole nu ƒom hetsɔa asi ɖoa nu.
Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
10 Gbɔgblɔ buna ɖe ame ŋkutawo eye woƒe aɖe léna ɖe woƒe nu me.
The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
11 Ame sia ame si ɖo tom la kafuam eye ame siwo kpɔm la ƒoa nu nyui tso ŋutinye
When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
12 elabena mexɔna na hiãtɔ siwo le ɣli dom be woakpe ɖe yewo ŋu kple tsyɔ̃evi si si kpeɖeŋutɔ mele o.
Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
13 Ame si le kukum la ƒe yayra vaa dzinye eye menana ahosi ƒe dzi kpɔa dzidzɔ.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
14 Metsɔ dzɔdzɔenyenye do abe awu ene eye nuteƒewɔwɔ nye nye awu ʋlaya kple tablanu.
Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
15 Menye ŋku na ŋkuagbãtɔ kple afɔ na tekunɔ.
Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
16 Menye tɔ na hiãtɔwo eye mexɔa nya ɖe amedzrowo nu.
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
17 Meŋea tsyo na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye meɖea nu si woda adzoe la le woƒe aɖutame.
And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
18 “Mebu be, ‘Maku ɖe nye ŋutɔ nye aƒe me, nye ŋkekewo asɔ gbɔ abe ke ene.
Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
19 Nye kewo aƒo ɖe to, ade tsi gbɔ eye zãmu adza ɖe nye alɔwo dzi zã blibo la.
My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
20 Nye ŋutikɔkɔe anɔ yeye zum ɣe sia ɣi le ŋunye eye dati anɔ yeye ɖaa le asinyeme.’
Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
21 “Amewo ɖoa tom henɔa nye asinu kpɔm, nɔa lalam na nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo le ɖoɖoezizi me.
To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
22 Ne meƒo nu la, womegaƒoa nu o eye nye nyawo gena ɖe woƒe towo me bɔlɔɔ.
After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
23 Wonɔa lalayem abe ale si wolalana na tsidzadza ene eye woxɔa nye nyawo dea wo ɖokui me abe ale si wonoa kelemetsi ene.
And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
24 Womexɔnɛ sena ne meko nu na wo o, nye mo ƒe kekeli nye nu xɔasi na wo.
I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
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 chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
