Yobo 29
1 Yobo akobaki koloba:
Job spoke again,
2 « Ah! Soki nakokaki kozala lisusu ndenge nazalaki na basanza oyo eleki, ndenge nazalaki na mikolo oyo Nzambe azalaki kobatela ngai,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 tango mwinda na Ye ezalaki kongenga na moto na ngai, mpe tango, na pole na Ye, nazalaki kotambola kati na molili.
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 Ah! Soki nakokaki kozala lisusu ndenge nazalaki na mikolo oyo nazalaki nanu na makasi, tango bolingo ya Nzambe ezalaki kopambola ndako na ngai,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 tango Nkolo-Na-Nguya-Nyonso azalaki nanu elongo na ngai bana mibali na ngai bazingelaki ngai,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 tango nzela na ngai etondisamaki na miliki mpe libanga ezalaki kosopa mafuta ya olive mpo na ngai!
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Tango nazalaki kokende na ekuke ya mboka mpe nazalaki kotia kiti na ngai na esika oyo bato ebele bakutanaka,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 bilenge bazalaki komona ngai mpe bazalaki kobombama, mibange bazalaki kotelema,
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 bakambi bazalaki kozanga maloba mpe kozipa minoko na bango na maboko,
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 bato ya lokumu bazalaki kokitisa mingongo na bango mpe lolemo na bango ezalaki kokangama na minoko na bango.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Moto nyonso oyo azalaki koyoka ngai azalaki koloba ete nazali moto ya esengo, mpe bato nyonso oyo bazalaki komona ngai bazalaki kotatola mpo na ngai;
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 pamba te nazalaki kosunga babola oyo bazalaki kosenga lisungi, mpe mwana etike oyo azangi moto oyo akosunga ye.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Moto oyo akomaki pene ya kokufa azalaki kopambola ngai, mpe nazalaki kopesa esengo na motema ya mwasi oyo akufisa mobali.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Nazalaki kolata bosembo lokola elamba; bosembo ezalaki elamba na ngai mpe kitendi na ngai ya kokanga na moto.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Nazalaki miso ya mokufi miso mpe makolo ya mokakatani;
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 nazalaki tata ya moto oyo akelela, nazalaki kobundela moto oyo nayebi te;
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 nabukaki mbanga ya moto mabe mpe nabotolaki bato oyo akangaki na minu na ye.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Nazalaki kokanisa: ‹ Nakokufa kati na ndako na ngai moko sima na mikolo ebele lokola zelo.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Misisa na ngai ekoluka mayi, mpe mayi oyo ezalaka na matiti ekovanda butu mobimba na bitape na ngai.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Lokumu na ngai ekozongisela ngai esengo, ata tolotolo ekokoma ya sika na loboko na ngai. ›
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Bato bazalaki koyoka ngai na bokebi, bazalaki na kimia mpo na koyoka toli na ngai.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Sima na ngai koloba, bazalaki na liloba ya kozongisa te; maloba na ngai ezalaki kokota na esengo na matoyi na bango.
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 Bazalaki kozela ngai ndenge bazelaka mvula, mpe bazalaki komela maloba na ngai lokola mvula ya suka.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Soki nasekisi bango, bazalaki kondima te; kongenga ya elongi na ngai ezalaki na motuya mpo na bango.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Naponaki nzela mpo na bango mpe navandaki lokola mokonzi na bango; nazalaki kokonza bango lokola mokonzi kati na mampinga na ye, nazalaki lokola moto oyo azalaki kolendisa bato ya mawa. »
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
