Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so se,
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 shone on 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in 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 steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 “Bere a na mekɔ kuropɔn pon ano mekɔtena mʼagua so wɔ ɔmanfo aguabɔbea,
when I went out to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 mmerante hu me a, wogyina nkyɛn na mpanyimfo sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
9 atitiriw gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes refrained from 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 stuck 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 commended me,
12 efisɛ meboaa ahiafo a wosu pɛɛ mmoa, ne ayisaa a wonni aboafo.
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who 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 ready to perish came on 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 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 to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafo agya; na mekaa ahɔho asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
17 Mibubuu amumɔyɛfo se na mihwim wɔn a wodi wɔn nya no fii wɔn anom.
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 will die in my own house, I will count my days as the sand.
19 Me ntin beduu nsu ano, na obosu agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 Mʼanuonyam rempa da, na agyan ayɛ foforo wɔ me nsam daa.’
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wotie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛn mʼafotu.
“Men listened to me, 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 didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 Wɔtwɛn me sɛnea wɔtwɛn osu a ɛpete, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ bere nsu.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 Sɛ meserew mekyerɛ wɔn a, wɔntaa nnye nni; mʼanimtew som bo ma wɔn.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t 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 chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
