Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
So Iob proceeded and continued his parable, saying,
2 “Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
Oh that I were as in times past, when God preserued me!
3 ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
When his light shined vpon mine head: and when by his light I walked thorowe the darkenesse,
4 Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
As I was in the dayes of my youth: when Gods prouidence was vpon my tabernacle:
5 ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
When the almightie was yet with me, and my children round about me.
6 ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
When I washed my pathes with butter, and when the rocke powred me out riuers of oyle:
7 “Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
When I went out to the gate, euen to the iudgement seat, and when I caused them to prepare my seate in the streete.
8 mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
The yong men saw me, and hid themselues, and the aged arose, and stood vp.
9 atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes stayed talke, and layde their hand on their mouth.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
The voyce of princes was hidde, and their tongue cleaued to the roofe of their mouth.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
And when the eare heard me, it blessed me: and when the eye sawe me, it gaue witnesse to me.
12 ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
For I deliuered the poore that cryed, and the fatherlesse, and him that had none to helpe him.
13 Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish, came vpon me, and I caused the widowes heart to reioyce.
14 Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
I put on iustice, and it couered me: my iudgement was as a robe, and a crowne.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
I was the eyes to the blinde, and I was the feete to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father vnto the poore, and when I knewe not the cause, I sought it out diligently.
17 Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
I brake also the chawes of the vnrighteous man, and pluckt the praye out of his teeth.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
Then I sayde, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiplie my dayes as the sand.
19 Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
For my roote is spread out by the water, and the dewe shall lye vpon my branche.
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
My glory shall renue towarde me, and my bowe shall be restored in mine hand.
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
Vnto me men gaue eare, and wayted, and helde their tongue at my counsell.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
After my wordes they replied not, and my talke dropped vpon them.
23 Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
And they wayted for me, as for the raine, and they opened their mouth as for the latter rayne.
24 Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
If I laughed on them, they beleeued it not: neither did they cause the light of my countenance to fall.
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 appoynted out their way, and did sit as chiefe, and dwelt as a King in the army, and like him that comforteth the mourners.
