Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
And Job again took up his discourse, and said,
2 “Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
O that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,
3 ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
4 Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,
5 ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my sons were about me,
6 ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil to me,
7 “Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
when I went forth to the gate to the city, when I prepared my seat in the street.
8 mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood.
9 atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The rulers refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
The voice of the ranking men 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 wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me.
12 ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
Because I delivered the poor who cried, also the fatherless who had none to help him.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the case of him whom I did not know.
17 Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root is spread out to the waters, and the dew lays all night upon my branch.
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
My glory is fresh in me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
After my words they spoke not again, and my speech distilled upon them.
23 Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
And they waited for me as for the rain. And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.
25 Mebɔɔ ɛkwan maa wɔn na metenaa ase sɛ wɔn ɔhene; metenaa ase sɛ ɔhene a ɔwɔ nʼakodɔm mu; meyɛɛ sɛ obi a ɔkyekyere agyaadwotwafoɔ werɛ.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as a man who comforts the mourners.
