Joba 29
1 Dia mbola nandroso nanao oha-teny ihany Joba ka nanao hoe:
Job spoke again,
2 Enga anie ka ho tahaka ny tamin’ ireny volana lasa ireny aho! Dia tahaka ilay tamin’ ny andro niarovan’ Andriamanitra ahy!
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 Fony mbola nazava teo ambonin’ ny lohako ny jirony, ary ny fahazavany no nandehanako tao amin’ ny maizina;
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 Eny, tahaka ny toetro fony aho mbola fararano, raha niseho teo ambonin’ ny laiko ny fisakaizan’ Andriamanitra;
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 Fony mbola tao amiko ny Tsitoha, Ary nanodidina ahy ny zanako;
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 Fony mbola nanasa ny tongotro tamin’ ny rononomandry aho, ary ny vatolampy namoaka renirano diloilo teo amiko;
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 Raha niainga niakatra ho eo amin’ ny vavahadin’ ny tanàna aho ka nametraka ny fipetrahako teo an-kalalahana,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Dia nahita ahy ny zatovo ka niampirimpirina; Ary niainga ny fotsy volo, dia nijoro;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Nangina tsy niteny ny lehibe ka nitampim-bava;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Tsy sahy niteny ny mpanapaka, ary ny lelany niraikitra tamin’ ny lanilaniny.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Izay sofina nandre dia nanao ahy hoe sambatra; Ary Izay maso nahita dia vavolombelona ho ahy,
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 Satria namonjy ny ory izay nitaraina aho sy ny kamboty izay tsy nanan-kamonjy.
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 Ny fisaoran’ izay efa ho faty dia tonga tamiko; Ary ny fon’ ny mpitondratena nampifaliko.
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 Nitafy fahamarinana aho, ka mba nitafy ahy kosa izy; Eny, tahaka ny lamba sy ny hamama ny rariny izay nananako.
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 Efa maso ho an’ ny jamba aho ary tongotra ho an’ ny mandringa.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Efa ray ho an’ ny malahelo aho, ary ny adin’ ny olona tsy fantatro aza nodinihiko.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Namaky ny nifin’ ny ratsy fanahy aho ka nandrombaka ny babo teo am-bavany
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 Dia hoy izaho: Eo amin’ ny akaniko ihany no hialako aina, ary hanamaro ny androko toy ny fasika aho.
“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 Ny fakako ho azon’ ny rano, ary ny ando hitoetra amin’ ny sampako mandritra ny alina.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Ho vaovao amiko lalandava ny voninahitro, ary ny tsipikako hihahenjana eny an-tanako.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Nihaino ahy ny olona, dia niandry, ka nangina tamin’ ny fanolorako saina izy.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Rehefa niteny aho, dia tsy mba namaly intsony izy; ary nitetevan’ ny teniko izy.
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 Niandry ahy toy ny fiandry ny ranonorana izy ary nitanatana vava toy ny fiandry ny fara-orana.
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 Raha nisy nila ho ketraka, dia mbola niseho miramirana taminy ihany ny tarehiko, ary tsy nahamaloka ny fahazavan’ ny tavako ireo.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Nifidy ny lalan-kalehany aho ka nipetraka ho lohany, eny, nitoetra toy ny mpanjaka teo amin’ ny miaramila sy toy ny mpampionona ny misaona aho.
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.”
