Iyyoob 29
1 Iyyoob haasaa isaa itti fufee akkana jedhe:
Job spoke again,
2 “Ani jiʼoota darban, bara Waaqni na eege sana akkamin hawwa ture,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 yeroo ibsaan isaa mataa koo irratti ife, anis ifa isaatiin dukkana keessa darbee yeroon deeme,
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 yeroo ani nama jabaa ture, yeroo michummaan Waaqaa mana koo eebbise,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 yeroo Waaqni Waan Hunda Dandaʼu na wajjin ture, yeroo ijoolleen koo naannoo koo turan,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 yeroo daandiin koo dhadhaadhaan jiifame, yeroo kattaanis laga zayitii ejersaa naaf yaase.
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 “Yeroo ani gara karra magaalaatti gad baʼee oobdii sabaa keessa barcuma koo irra taaʼe,
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 dargaggeeyyiin na arganii karaa irraa goru; maanguddoonnis kaʼanii dhaabatu ture;
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 hangafoonni sabaa dubbii afaanitti qabatanii harka isaanii afaan irra kaaʼatu ture;
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 sagaleen namoota bebeekamoo hin dhagaʼamu ture; arrabni isaaniis laagaa isaaniitti ni maxxana ture.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Namni na dhagaʼu kam iyyuu na jaja; kanneen na arganis na galateeffatu ture;
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 ani hiyyeessa gargaarsa barbaachaaf booʼu, nama abbaa hin qabne kan namni isa gargaaru tokko iyyuu hin jirre fureeraatii.
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 Namni duʼuu gaʼe na eebbiseera; ani akka garaan haadha hiyyeessaa gammachuun ililchus godheera.
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 Qajeelummaa akka uffata kootti uffadheera; murtiin qajeelaan immoo uffata koo fi marata mataa koo ture.
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 Ani nama jaameef ija, okkolaaf immoo miilla taʼeen ture.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Ani rakkataadhaaf abbaan ture; nama ormaatiif illee nan falman ture.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Qarriffaa nama hamaa nan cabse; waan inni qabates afaan isaatii buuseera.
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 “Ani akkana jedheen yaadee ture; ‘Manuma koo keessattin duʼa; barri jireenya kootiis akkuma cirrachaa baayʼata.
“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 Hiddi koo gad fagaatee bishaan qaqqaba; fixeensis halkan guutuu dameewwan koo irra bula.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Ulfinni koo na keessatti haaraa taʼee jiraata; iddaanis harka koo keessatti haaromfama.’
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 “Namoonni calʼisanii gorsa koo eeggachaa abdiidhaan na dhaggeeffatu.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Erga ani dubbadhee booddee isaan deebiʼanii hin dubbanne; dubbiin koos akka gaariitti gurra isaanii seena ture.
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 Isaan akkuma nama bokkaa eeggatuutti na eeggatan; dubbii koos akkuma bokkaa arfaasaa dhugan.
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 Yeroo ani isaaniif seequtti isaan hin amanne; ifni fuula koos isaaniif waan guddaa ture.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Ani karaa isaaniif filee akka hangafa isaaniitti nan taaʼe; akka mootii loltoota isaa gidduu jiraatuutti nan jiraadhe; ani akka nama warra booʼan jajjabeessuus taʼe.
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.”
