< Job 21 >
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
2 Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
“Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
3 Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
4 Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
“Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
5 Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri 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 medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
7 Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
8 Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
9 Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie 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 nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
11 Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children dance and play.
Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
12 They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol )
Wɔdi yie wɔn nkwanna mu na wɔkɔ damena mu asomdwoeɛ mu. (Sheol )
14 Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what doth it profit 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 Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked be far from me.
Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo 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 wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, deɛ Onyankopɔn firi nʼabufuo 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 ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den 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 sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
20 His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
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?
Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
22 Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
“Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
23 One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ 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 onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
25 But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
26 And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
27 Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust judgments against me.
“Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
28 For you say: Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
29 Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
30 Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
31 Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
32 He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
Wɔsoa no kɔ damena 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.
Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi 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 akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”