Hiob 29
1 Hiob toaa so sɛ,
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “Mafe abosome a atwam no, nna a Onyankopɔn hwɛɛ me soɔ no,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 ɛberɛ a ne kanea hyerɛn mʼatifi na mede ne kanea menantee esum mu no!
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Ao, ɛnna a mesii soɔ no, ɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn adamfofa a emu yɛ den hyiraa me fie,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on 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 way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 “Ɛberɛ a na mekɔ kuropɔn ɛpono ano mekɔtena mʼadwa so wɔ ɔmanfoɔ adwaberem,
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 mmeranteɛ hunu me a, wɔgyina nkyɛn na mpanimfoɔ sɔre gyina hɔ;
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 atitire gyae kasa na wɔde wɔn nsa kata wɔn ano;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 mmapɔmma tɛm dinn, na wɔn tɛkrɛma ka wɔn dodom.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Wɔn a wɔte me nka nyinaa ka me ho asɛmpa, na wɔn a wɔhunu me nyinaa kamfo me,
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 ɛfiri sɛ, meboaa ahiafoɔ a wɔsu pɛɛ mmoa, ne nwisiaa a wɔnni aboafoɔ.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he 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 about to perish came on me; 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 like a robe and a turban.
15 Meyɛɛ aniwa maa anifirafoɔ, ne ɛnan maa abubuafoɔ.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Meyɛɛ ahiafoɔ agya; na mekaa ahɔhoɔ asɛm maa wɔn.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Mebubuu amumuyɛfoɔ se na mehwim wɔn a wɔdi wɔn nya no firii wɔn anom.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between 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 nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Me nhini bɛduru nsuo ano, na obosuo agugu me mman so anadwo mu nyinaa.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Mʼanimuonyam bɛkɔ so ayɛ frɔmm wɔ me so, na mʼahoɔden ayɛ foforɔ.’
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 “Nnipa hwehwɛɛ sɛ wɔtie me, wɔyɛɛ dinn, twɛnee mʼafotuo.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Sɛ mekasa wie a wɔnnkasa bio, ɛfiri sɛ me nsɛm tɔɔ wɔn asom yie.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Wɔtwɛnee me sɛdeɛ wɔtwɛne osutɔ, na wɔmenee me nsɛm sɛ osutɔ berɛ nsuo.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 Wɔn abasa mu buiɛ no, mesere kyerɛɛ wɔn; mʼanimteɛ som bo ma wɔn.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not 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 selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
