Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said:
2 “Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
O that I were as in months past, In the days when God was my guardian;
3 ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
When his lamp shined over my head, And when 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 autumn of my days, When the friendship of God was over 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 around me;
6 ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
When I bathed my steps in milk, 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 by the city, And took my seat in the market-place,
8 mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged arose and stood.
9 atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes refrained from speaking, And laid their hand upon their mouth.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
The nobles held their peace, 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,
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.
For I delivered the poor, when they cried; And 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 that was ready to perish came upon me, And I caused the heart of the widow to sing for joy.
14 Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
I clothed myself with righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; And justice was my robe and 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 poor, And the cause of him 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 teeth of the wicked, And plucked the spoil from his jaws.
18 “Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
Then said I, “I shall die in my nest; 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 abroad to the waters, And the dew abideth on my branches.
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
My glory is fresh with me, And my bow gathereth strength 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.
To my words they made no reply, When my speech dropped down upon them.
23 Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
Yea, they waited for me as for the rain; They opened their mouths wide as for the latter rain.
24 Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
If I smiled upon them, they believed it not; Nor 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.
When I came among them, I sat as chief; I dwelt as a king in the midst of an army, As a comforter among mourners.
