Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buae se,
Then Job made answer and said,
2 Muntie me nsɛm no yiye. Momma eyi nyɛ awerɛkyekye a mode ma me.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Munnya ntoboase mma me bere a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔ so nni fɛw.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 “Minwiinwii hyɛ onipa ana? Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ minya ntoboase?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiriw mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Sɛ midwen eyi ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Adɛn nti na amumɔyɛfo tena nkwa mu? Wonyin kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Wohu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔso, wohu wɔn nenanom.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afi mu, na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nnyɛ asaadwe; na wɔn anantwibere nwo a wɔmpɔn.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nguankuw; na emu mmotafowa no huruhuruw.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasae ne sanku so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyigyei gye wɔn ani.
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 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Fi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yehu wʼakwan.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 Hena ne otumfo no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpae a mfaso bɛn na yebenya?’
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 Nanso wɔn nkɔso no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho fi amumɔyɛfo afotu ho.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 “Nanso mpɛn ahe na wodum amumɔyɛfo kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, nea Onyankopɔn fi nʼabufuw mu de ba no?
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 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ sare wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframaden bi apra wɔn?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 Wɔka se, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe onipa no ankasa aso ma ohu.
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 Ma ɔno ankasa ani nhu ne sɛe; ma Otumfo abufuwhyew no nka nʼani.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 Dɛn na ɛfa wɔn ho fa wɔn abusuafo a woagyaw wɔn akyi no ho bere a asram a wɔatwa ama no aba awiei no?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 “Obi betumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ bere a obu atitiriw mpo atɛn?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 Obi wu wɔ bere a ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 na ne nipadua ayɛ frɔmfrɔm, na hon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Ɔfoforo nso de ɔkra mu yawdi wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Wosie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfutuma koro mu, ma asunson nnunu wɔn nyinaa.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 “Mahu mo adwene, ɔkwan a mobɛfa so afom me.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 Moka se, ‘Onipa kɛse no fi wɔ he, ntamadan a omumɔyɛfo no tenaa mu no?’
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 So mummmisaa wɔn a wotu kwan no asɛm da? Wɔn amanneɛbɔ mu nsɛm ho nhiaa mo
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 sɛ onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wogye wɔn abufuwhyew da no ana?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Hena na ɔde ne suban si nʼanim? Hena na otua no nea wayɛ so ka?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ ɔda mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 Obon mu dɔte yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na dɔm a wontumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
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 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu bɛkyekye me werɛ? Mo mmuae nyɛ hwee sɛ atoro!”
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?
