Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 “Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 Ao, nna a misii so no, bere a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fi,
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 bere a na Otumfo no da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia no,
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 bere a na nufusu mu srade afɔw mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsu maa me no.
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 “Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wohu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewu no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafo ani gyee wɔn koma mu.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 Mede trenee furaa sɛ mʼadurade; atɛntrenee yɛɛ me nkataso ne mʼabotiri.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifuraefo, ne anan maa mmubuafo.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, efisɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yiye.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Mebɔɔ kwan maa wɔn na metenaa ase sɛ wɔn hene; metenaa ase sɛ ɔhene a ɔwɔ nʼasraafo mu; meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔkyekye agyaadwotwafo werɛ.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
