< Job 21 >
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Na Hiob buae se,
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
Muntie me nsɛm no yiye. Momma eyi nyɛ awerɛkyekye a mode ma me.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
Munnya ntoboase mma me bere a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔ so nni fɛw.
4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
“Minwiinwii hyɛ onipa ana? Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ minya ntoboase?
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiriw mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
6 As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Sɛ midwen eyi ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
Adɛn nti na amumɔyɛfo tena nkwa mu? Wonyin kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
Wohu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔso, wohu wɔn nenanom.
9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
Ɔhaw nni wɔn afi mu, na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
10 Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
Wɔn anantwinini nnyɛ asaadwe; na wɔn anantwibere nwo a wɔmpɔn.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nguankuw; na emu mmotafowa no huruhuruw.
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasae ne sanku so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyigyei gye wɔn ani.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol )
Wodi yiye wɔn nkwanna mu na wɔkɔ ɔdae mu asomdwoe mu. (Sheol )
14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Fi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yehu wʼakwan.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
Hena ne otumfo no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpae a mfaso bɛn na yebenya?’
16 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
Nanso wɔn nkɔso no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho fi amumɔyɛfo afotu ho.
17 How often shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
“Nanso mpɛn ahe na wodum amumɔyɛfo kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, nea Onyankopɔn fi nʼabufuw mu de ba no?
18 They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ sare wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframaden bi apra wɔn?
19 God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
Wɔka se, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe onipa no ankasa aso ma ohu.
20 His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Ma ɔno ankasa ani nhu ne sɛe; ma Otumfo abufuwhyew no nka nʼani.
21 For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
Dɛn na ɛfa wɔn ho fa wɔn abusuafo a woagyaw wɔn akyi no ho bere a asram a wɔatwa ama no aba awiei no?
22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
“Obi betumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ bere a obu atitiriw mpo atɛn?
23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
Obi wu wɔ bere a ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
24 His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
na ne nipadua ayɛ frɔmfrɔm, na hon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
Ɔfoforo nso de ɔkra mu yawdi wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
Wosie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfutuma koro mu, ma asunson nnunu wɔn nyinaa.
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
“Mahu mo adwene, ɔkwan a mobɛfa so afom me.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
Moka se, ‘Onipa kɛse no fi wɔ he, ntamadan a omumɔyɛfo no tenaa mu no?’
29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
So mummmisaa wɔn a wotu kwan no asɛm da? Wɔn amanneɛbɔ mu nsɛm ho nhiaa mo
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
sɛ onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wogye wɔn abufuwhyew da no ana?
31 Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Hena na ɔde ne suban si nʼanim? Hena na otua no nea wayɛ so ka?
32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
Wɔsoa no kɔ ɔda mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
33 He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
Obon mu dɔte yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na dɔm a wontumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
34 How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
“Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu bɛkyekye me werɛ? Mo mmuae nyɛ hwee sɛ atoro!”