Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2 “Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
4 Ao, nna a misii so no, bere a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fi,
As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
5 bere a na Otumfo no da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia no,
When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about 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 butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7 “Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wohu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewu no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafo ani gyee wɔn koma mu.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Mede trenee furaa sɛ mʼadurade; atɛntrenee yɛɛ me nkataso ne mʼabotiri.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifuraefo, ne anan maa mmubuafo.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
17 Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, efisɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yiye.
After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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 chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
