Job 21
1 Then Job responded by saying:
Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
2 I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
“Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
3 Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
4 Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
“Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
5 Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
6 As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
7 Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
8 They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
9 Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
10 Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
12 They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
Wɔdi yie wɔn nkwanna mu na wɔkɔ damena mu asomdwoeɛ mu. (Sheol h7585)
14 Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
Hwan ne otumfoɔ no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpaeɛ a mfasoɔ bɛn na yɛbɛnya?’
16 It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
17 How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
“Nanso mpɛn ahe na wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, deɛ Onyankopɔn firi nʼabufuo mu de ba no?
18 They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
19 God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
20 His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
21 For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
22 Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
“Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
23 This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
24 His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
25 In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
26 And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
27 Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
“Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
28 For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
29 Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
30 that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
31 Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
32 He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
33 He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
34 Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
“Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
