Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “Mʼani agyina asram a atwa mu no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me so no,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 bere a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea nantewee sum mu no!
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Ao, nna a misii so no, bere a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fi,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on 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 my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 “Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dudom.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wohu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewu no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafo ani gyee wɔn koma mu.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; 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 me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifuraefo, ne anan maa mmubuafo.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mewu wɔ mʼankasa me fi mu, na me nna dɔɔso sɛ nwea.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, efisɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yiye.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
