Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
Job went on speaking.
2 “Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Ao, nna a misii so no, bere a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fi,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 bere a na Otumfo no da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia no,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 bere a na nufusu mu srade afɔw mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsu maa me no.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 “Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wohu me nyinaa kamfo me,
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewu no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafo ani gyee wɔn koma mu.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Mede trenee furaa sɛ mʼadurade; atɛntrenee yɛɛ me nkataso ne mʼabotiri.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifuraefo, ne anan maa mmubuafo.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, efisɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yiye.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
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 decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
