Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
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 shone on 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 my prime, when the friendship of God was in 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 my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
7 “Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
when I went out to the city gate, 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. The aged rose up and stood.
9 atitire 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 dodom.
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 wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it commended me,
12 ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one 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 on 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 feet to the lame.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know.
17 Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
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 will die in my own house, I will count 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. The dew lies all night on my branch.
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.’
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
“Men listened to me, 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 didn’t speak again. My speech fell on them.
23 Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
24 Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
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. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
