Job 29
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
Hiob toaa so sɛ,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
“Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
ɛberɛ a na Otumfoɔ da so ka me ho na me mma atwa me ho ahyia,
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
ɛberɛ a na nufosuo mu sradeɛ afɔ mʼakwan na abotan hwiee ngo sɛ nsuo maa me.
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
“Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Onipa a na ɔrewuo no hyiraa me; na memaa akunafoɔ ani gyee wɔn akoma mu.
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
Mede tenenee firaa sɛ mʼaduradeɛ; atɛntenenee yɛɛ me nkatasoɔ ne mʼabotire.
15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
“Medwenee sɛ, ‘Mɛwu wɔ mʼankasa me fie mu, na me nna adɔɔso sɛ anwea.
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
“Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
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.
