Yobu 29
1 Yobu n’ayongera okwogera nti,
Job spoke again,
2 “Nga nneegomba emyezi egyayita, ennaku Katonda mwe yali nga y’andabirira,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 ettaala ye bwe yayakiranga omutwe gwange, n’ekitangaala kye bwe kyanjakiranga nga ntambulira mu kizikiza.
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 Mu biro we nabeerera ow’amaanyi, omukwano gwa Katonda omuyitirivu nga gukuuma amaka gange,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 Ayinzabyonna bwe yali ng’akyali nange n’abaana bange nga bakyanneetoolodde,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 n’ekkubo lyange nga lisiigiddwa omuzigo n’olwazi nga lunfukirira omugga ogw’amafuta.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 “Bwe nalaganga ku mulyango gw’ekibuga ne ntuula ku ntebe mu kifo we baakubiranga enkiiko,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 abavubuka abato bandabanga ne badda ebbali, abakadde ne basituka ne bayimirira;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 abakungu ab’oku ntikko ne balekeraawo okwogera, ne bakwata ne ku mimwa;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 ab’ebitiibwa ne balekeraawo okwogera, ennimi zaabwe ne zeesibira waggulu mu kamwa.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Buli kutu okwampuliranga nga kwesiima, era n’abo abandabanga nga basiima
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 kubanga nawonyanga abaavu abaakaabiranga obuyambi, n’abatalina bakitaabwe abatalina abayamba.
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 Omusajja ng’afa, y’ansabira omukisa, ne ndeetera omutima gwa nnamwandu okuyimba.
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 Ne nnyambala obutuukirivu ng’engoye zange, obwenkanya bwe bwali omunagiro gwange era ekitambala kye neesiba ku mutwe.
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 Nnali maaso g’abamuzibe era ebigere by’abalema.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Nnali kitaawe w’abanaku, ne nneyama okuwolereza besimanyiiko.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Namenyanga amannyo g’abakozi b’ebibi, ne nziggya mu kamwa kaabwe, be baali bakutte.
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 “Nalowooza nti, ‘Ndifiira mu nnyumba yange nga mpezezza ennaku zange nga nnyingi ng’omusenyu ogw’oku nnyanja.
“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 Omulandira gwange gulituuka mu mazzi, era n’omusulo gulibeera ku ttabi lyange okukeesa obudde.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Ekitiibwa kyange tekirikaddiwa mu nze, n’omutego gwange ogw’akasaale gusigale nga tegukaddiye mu mukono gwange.’
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 “Abantu beesunganga okumpuliriza, nga balindirira mu kasirise amagezi gange.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Bwe namalanga okwogera, nga tewaba addayo kwogera, ebigambo byange byagwanga mpola mpola mu matu gaabwe.
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 Bannindiriranga ng’enkuba ne banywa ebigambo byange ng’enkuba eya ttoggo.
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 Bwe nabamwenyeranga nga tebakikkiriza; ekitangaala ky’oku maaso gange kyali kya muwendo gye bali.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Nabasalirangawo eky’okukola, ne ntuula nga kabaka n’amaggye ge; nnali ng’abo ababeesabeesa abakungubazi.”
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.”
