Yobu 29
1 Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
And Job continued his discourse:
2 “Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,
3 ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,
4 Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,
5 Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
6 n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 “Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,
8 abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.
9 abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,
12 kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.
13 Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
14 Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.
15 Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.
16 Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
17 Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.
18 “Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
19 Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.
20 Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.
22 Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
23 Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.
24 Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
25 Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
