Job 24
1 Why doesn't the Almighty set a definite time to punish the wicked? Why don't those who follow him never see him act in judgment?
“Adɛn enti na Onyankopɔn nhyɛ berɛ mma atemmuo? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔnim noɔ no hwɛ saa da no anim ɛnso ɛmma da?
2 The wicked move boundary stones; they seize other people's flocks and move them to their own pastures.
Nnipa yiyi aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; na wɔde nnwankuo a wɔawia kɔ hɔ adidi.
3 They steal the orphan's donkey; they take the widow's ox as security for a debt.
Wɔpam nwisiaa mfunumu na wɔgye akunafoɔ anantwie sɛ awowasideɛ.
4 They push the poor out of their way; the destitute are forced to hide from them.
Wɔsum ahiafoɔ firi ɛkwan so na wɔhyɛ asase no so ahiafoɔ ma wɔkɔtetɛ.
5 Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor have to scavenge for their food, looking for anything to feed their children in the wasteland.
Ahiafoɔ no yɛ wɔn adwuma pɛ aduane te sɛ ɛserɛ so mfunumu no; asase wesee no so na wɔnya aduane ma wɔn mma.
6 They are forced to find what they can in other people's fields, to glean among the vineyards of the wicked.
Wɔboaboa mmoa aduane ano wɔ mfuo no so na wɔdi mpɛpɛ wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ bobe nturo mu.
7 They spend the night naked because they have no clothes; they have nothing to cover themselves against the cold.
Wɔnni ntoma, na wɔda kwaterekwa; wɔnni hwee a wɔde kata wɔn ho wɔ awɔ mu.
8 They are soaked by the cold mountain storms, and huddle beside the rocks for shelter.
Mmepɔ so osutɔ fɔ wɔn twɔnn na wɔfomfam mmotan no ho ɛfiri sɛ wɔnni ahatasoɔ.
9 Fatherless children are snatched from their mother's breasts, taking the babies of the poor as security for a debt.
Wɔte awisiaa firi nufoɔ ano; na wɔfa ohiani abotafoa de si ne ka anan mu.
10 Because they have no clothes to wear they have to go naked, harvesting sheaves of grain while they themselves are hungry.
Wɔnenam adagya a wɔnni ntoma; wɔsoa ayuo afiafi, nanso ɛkɔm de wɔn ara.
11 In the olive groves they work to produce oil, but do not taste it; they tread the winepress, but are thirsty.
Wɔkyi ngo wɔn adan mu; wɔtiatia nsakyimena mu, nanso osukɔm de wɔn.
12 In the city the dying groan, and the wounded cry for help, but God ignores their prayers.
Wɔn a wɔrewuwuo no apinisie firi kuropɔn no mu, na apirafoɔ kra su pɛ mmoa. Nanso Onyankopɔn mfa bɔne nto obiara so.
13 These are people who rebel against the light. They do not want to know its ways, or to stay on its paths.
“Ebinom wɔ hɔ a wɔsɔre tia hann no, wɔn a wɔnnim nʼakwan anaasɛ wɔnnante nʼatempɔn so.
14 The murderer gets up at dawn to kill the poor and needy, and when night falls he becomes a thief.
Sɛ adekyeɛ hann no kɔ a, owudifoɔ no sɔre na ɔkum ohiani ne mmɔborɔni; adesaeɛ mu, ɔwiawia ne ho sɛ ɔkorɔmfoɔ.
15 The adulterer waits for dusk, saying to himself, ‘No one will see me now,’ and he covers his face.
Ɔwaresɛefoɔ twɛn ɛberɛ a adeɛ resa; ɔka sɛ, ‘obiara renhunu me,’ na ɔde nʼanim hinta.
16 Thieves break into houses during the night and they sleep during the day. They don't even know what the light is like!
Esum mu na nnipa bubu apono wura afie mu, na awiaberɛ mu no, wɔtoto wɔn ho ɛpono mu; wɔne hann nni hwee yɛ.
17 Total darkness is like light to them, for they are familiar with the night.
Esum kabii yɛ adekyeɛ ma wɔn nyinaa; wɔne esum mu nneɛma a ɛyɛ hu fa nnamfo.
18 Like bubbles on the surface of a river they are quickly carried away. The land they own is cursed by God. They don't enter their own vineyards.
“Nanso wɔte sɛ ahuro a ɛtɛ nsuo ani; wɔadome wɔn kyɛfa wɔ asase no so, enti obiara nnkɔ bobe nturo no mu.
19 Just as heat and drought dry up snowmelt, so Sheol takes away those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
Sɛdeɛ ɔhyew ne ɔpɛ de sukyerɛmma a anane korɔ no, saa ara na damena de wɔn a wɔayɛ bɔne korɔ. (Sheol h7585)
20 Even their mothers forget them, maggots feast on them, they are no longer remembered, and their wickedness becomes like a tree that is broken into pieces.
Awotwaa werɛ firi wɔn, na ɔsonsono di wɔn nam; nnipa bɔne deɛ, wɔnnkae wɔn bio na mmom wɔbubu te sɛ dua.
21 They mistreat childless women and are mean to widows.
Wɔde ɔbaa bonini a ɔnni ba yɛ haboa, na wɔnhunu akunafoɔ mmɔbɔ.
22 God prolongs the life of the wicked by his power; but when they arise, they have no assurance of life.
Onyankopɔn nam ne tumi so twe atumfoɔ kɔ; ɛwom sɛ wɔnya asetena pa deɛ, nanso wɔnni nkwa ho bɔhyɛ.
23 He supports them and gives them security, but he is always watching what they're doing.
Ɔtumi ma wɔn tena ase asomdwoeɛ mu, nanso nʼani wɔ wɔn akwan so.
24 Though they may be illustrious for a while, soon they are gone. They are brought down like all others, cut off like the heads of grain.
Wɔma wɔn so berɛ tiawa bi, na afei wɔnni hɔ bio; wɔbrɛ wɔn ase boaboa wɔn ano sɛ nnipa nyinaa; wɔtwitwa wɔn gu te sɛ aburoo ti.
25 If this isn't so, who can prove I'm a liar and there's nothing to what I say?”
“Sɛ yei nte saa a, hwan na ɔbɛtumi agye me akyinnyeɛ na ama deɛ maka ayɛ nsɛnhunu?”
