Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2 “Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
Oh 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 shined above 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 days of my youth, when the converse 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 children 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 me out rivers of oil!
7 “Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
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 princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved 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 unto me;
12 ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that 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 that 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 itself with 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 feet was I to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
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 with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
19 Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
Unto 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 dropped 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.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
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 one that comforteth the mourners.
