Hiob 29

1 Hiob yi eƒe nuƒoƒo dzi be,

Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

2 “O, ale si medi vevie be wòanɔ nam abe ale si wònɔ le ɣleti siwo va yi me la ene, le ŋkeke siwo me Mawu kpɔ tanye,

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

3 esi eƒe akaɖi klẽ ɖe nye ta dzi eye eƒe kekeli na mezɔ to blukɔ tsiɖitsiɖi me!

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

4 O, nenye ɖe wòanɔ nam abe nye lãmesẽŋkekewo me ene, esi kadodo kple Mawu kplikplikpli na wòyra nye aƒe,

As I was in the days of my youth, when the friendship and counsel of God was upon my tabernacle;

5 esi Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ganɔ kplim ko eye vinyewo ƒo xlãm,

When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;

6 esi nye toƒe nye notsi kpeke ɖeɖe eye amitimi ɖuɖu bababa tso agakpe me nam.

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

7 “Ne meyi dua ƒe agbo nu, henɔ anyi ɖe zikpui dzi gli, le dua ƒe ablɔme la,

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

8 ɖekakpuiawo kpɔam, heƒoa asa nam eye ame tsitsiwo tsona ɖe tsitrenu,

The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.

9 dumegãwo tɔna ne wole nu ƒom hetsɔa asi ɖoa nu.

The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.

10 Gbɔgblɔ buna ɖe ame ŋkutawo eye woƒe aɖe léna ɖe woƒe nu me.

The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

11 Ame sia ame si ɖo tom la kafuam eye ame siwo kpɔm la ƒoa nu nyui tso ŋutinye

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

12 elabena mexɔna na hiãtɔ siwo le ɣli dom be woakpe ɖe yewo ŋu kple tsyɔ̃evi si si kpeɖeŋutɔ mele o.

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

13 Ame si le kukum la ƒe yayra vaa dzinye eye menana ahosi ƒe dzi kpɔa dzidzɔ.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

14 Metsɔ dzɔdzɔenyenye do abe awu ene eye nuteƒewɔwɔ nye nye awu ʋlaya kple tablanu.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

15 Menye ŋku na ŋkuagbãtɔ kple afɔ na tekunɔ.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 Menye tɔ na hiãtɔwo eye mexɔa nya ɖe amedzrowo nu.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

17 Meŋea tsyo na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye meɖea nu si woda adzoe la le woƒe aɖutame.

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

18 “Mebu be, ‘Maku ɖe nye ŋutɔ nye aƒe me, nye ŋkekewo asɔ gbɔ abe ke ene.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

19 Nye kewo aƒo ɖe to, ade tsi gbɔ eye zãmu adza ɖe nye alɔwo dzi zã blibo la.

My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

20 Nye ŋutikɔkɔe anɔ yeye zum ɣe sia ɣi le ŋunye eye dati anɔ yeye ɖaa le asinyeme.’

My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.

21 “Amewo ɖoa tom henɔa nye asinu kpɔm, nɔa lalam na nye aɖaŋuɖoɖo le ɖoɖoezizi me.

Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.

22 Ne meƒo nu la, womegaƒoa nu o eye nye nyawo gena ɖe woƒe towo me bɔlɔɔ.

After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.

23 Wonɔa lalayem abe ale si wolalana na tsidzadza ene eye woxɔa nye nyawo dea wo ɖokui me abe ale si wonoa kelemetsi ene.

And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

24 Womexɔnɛ sena ne meko nu na wo o, nye mo ƒe kekeli nye nu xɔasi na wo.

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

25 Metiaa mɔ si woato la na wo, menɔa wo dome abe woƒe tatɔ ene eye menɔa wo dome abe woƒe fia le eƒe aʋakɔwo dome ene. Menɔna abe ame si faa akɔ na konyifalawo ene.

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king among his troops, as one that comforteth the mourners.