Hiob 21
1 Hiob ɖo nya ŋu nɛ be,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 “Ɖo to nyuie nàse nye nyawo, esia nenye akɔfafa si nànam.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Migbɔ dzi ɖi nam, ne maƒo nu eye ne meƒo nu vɔ la, miate ŋu ayi miaƒe alɔmeɖeɖe dzi.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 “Amegbetɔe mele konyi fam na? Nu ka ta nyemagbe dzigbɔɖeanyi o?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Mikpɔm ɖa, ne miaƒe mo nawɔ yaa eye miaƒu asi nu.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Ne mebu nu sia ŋuti la ŋɔ dziam eye nye ameti blibo la medzona nyanyanya.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Nu ka ta ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔa agbe, tsina, kua amegã, eye woƒe ŋusẽ dzina ɖe edzi ɖo?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Wonɔa agbe, kpɔa wo viwo lia ke heƒoa xlã wo eye woƒe dzidzimeviwo tsina le wo ŋkume.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Woƒe aƒewo me le dedie, wovo tso vɔvɔ̃ ƒe asi me eye Mawu ƒe ameƒoti mevaa wo dzi o.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Woƒe nyitsuwo megbea asiyɔyɔ o, woƒe nyinɔwo dzia vi eye fu megena le wo ƒo o.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 Woɖea wo viwo doa goe abe lãha ene eye wo vi suewo nɔa fefem henɔa ɣe ɖum.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 Wodzia ha ɖe asiʋuiwo kple kasaŋkuwo ŋu eye wotua aglo ɖe kpẽ ƒe ɖiɖi ŋu.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 gake wogblɔna na Mawu be, ‘Ɖe asi le mía ŋu! Medzro mí be míanya wò mɔwo o.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 Ame kae nye Ŋusẽkatãtɔ be míasubɔe? Viɖe ka míakpɔ ne míedo gbe ɖa nɛ?’
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Evɔa woƒe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ mele woawo ŋutɔ ƒe asi me o, eya ta menɔ adzɔge na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aɖaŋudede.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 “Ke hã la, zi nenie ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe akaɖi tsina? Zi nenie dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔna ɖe wo dzi, esi nye nu si Mawu ɖo ɖi na wo le eƒe dziku me?
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 Zi nenie wole abe gbe ƒuƒu si ya lɔ ɖe nu alo atsa si ahom lɔ ɖe nu ene?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 Wogblɔ be, ‘Mawu ɖo amegbetɔ ƒe tohehe ɖi na via ŋutsuwo.’ Anyo be wòahe to na amea ŋutɔ, ne wòanya nu si wònye!
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 Eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkuwo nekpɔ eƒe gbegblẽ, eye wòano Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe dɔmedzoekplu
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 elabena ɖe wòtsɔ ɖe le eme na ƒometɔ siwo wògblẽ ɖe megbe esi ɣleti siwo woɖo ɖi nɛ la wu nua?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 “Ɖe ame aɖe ate ŋu afia gɔmesese Mawu, esi wònye eyae drɔ̃a ʋɔnu ame kɔkɔtɔ gɔ̃ hã?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 Ame aɖe ku esi eƒe agbe ɖo vivime, wòle dedinɔnɔ me eye wòɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ,
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 eƒe ŋutilã kpɔ nunyiame nyuitɔ eye ƒutomemi yɔ eƒe ƒuwo me fũu.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Ame bubu ku le eƒe luʋɔ ƒe nuxaxa me eye mese vivi na nu vivi aɖeke kpɔ o.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Ke wo ame evea mlɔ kasanu le ke me, eye ŋɔviwo ɖi ba ɖe wo kple evea dzi.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 “Menya nu siwo susum miele la nyuie kple nu vɔ̃ɖi siwo ɖom miele be miadze agɔ le dzinye.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 Miegblɔ be, ‘Afi ka ame xɔŋkɔ la ƒe aƒe le eye agbadɔ si me ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔ la ɖe?’
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Miebia gbe mɔzɔlawo kpɔ oa? Mietsɔ ɖeke le woƒe nuteƒekpɔkpɔ si wogblɔ fia mi la me be
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 woɖea ame vɔ̃ɖi le dzɔgbevɔ̃egbe, eye woɖenɛ le dzikugbe oa?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Ame kae ɖe eƒe agbe vlo si nɔm wòle la ɖe mo nɛ kpɔ? Ame kae ɖoa nu tovo si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Wokɔnɛ yia yɔdo gbɔe eye wodzɔa eƒe yɔdokpe ŋu.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 Ke siwo le balime la vivi enu, amewo katã dze eyome eye ameha gã aɖe si womate ŋu axlẽ o la dze ŋgɔ nɛ.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 “Eya ta aleke miate ŋu awɔ atsɔ miaƒe bometsinyawo afa akɔ nam mahã? Naneke mele miaƒe nyaŋuɖoɖowo me wu alakpa o!”
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
