Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
3 bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over 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 around me;
6 bere a na nufusu mu srade afɔw mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsu maa me no.
When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
The nobles held their peace, 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,
When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And the fatherless, who 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 heart of the widow to sing for joy.
14 Mede trenee furaa sɛ mʼadurade; atɛntrenee yɛɛ me nkataso ne mʼabotiri.
I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him 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 teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root is spread abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength in my hand.”
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
To 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.
To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
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.
When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
