Job 34
1 Then Elihu continued,
Afei Elihu kae se,
2 “Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
“Mo anyansafo, muntie me nsɛm; mo nimdefo monyɛ aso mma me.
3 The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
Efisɛ aso sɔ nsɛm hwɛ sɛnea tɛkrɛma ka aduan hwɛ no.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
Momma yɛnsese, nhu nea eye ma yɛn. Momma yɛn nyinaa mmɔ mu nsua nea eye.
5 Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
“Hiob ka se, ‘Me ho nni asɛm, nanso Onyankopɔn abu me ntɛnkyew.
6 Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
Ɛwɔ mu sɛ mʼasɛm da kwan mu, nanso wobu me ɔtorofo; ɛwɔ mu sɛ menyɛɛ bɔne biara, nanso ne bɛmma no ama me apirakuru a enwu da.’
7 Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
Onipa bɛn na ɔte sɛ Hiob a ɔnom animtiaabu sɛ nsu?
8 He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
Ɔne amumɔyɛfo nantew; na ɔne atirimɔdenfo nso bɔ.
9 He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
Efisɛ ɔka se, ‘Sɛ onipa bɔ mmɔden sɛ ɔbɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani a onnya so mfaso biara.’
10 So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
“Enti mo mmarima a mowɔ ntease muntie me. Ɛmpare Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛyɛ bɔne, sɛ Otumfo no bɛyɛ mfomso.
11 He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
Nnipa nneyɛe so na ɔhwɛ tua wɔn ka; nea ɛfata ne nneyɛe na ɔma ɛba ne so.
12 It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
Ɛmfata sɛ wɔde mfomso susuw Onyankopɔn, na ɛmfata sɛ wɔde ntɛnkyew susuw Otumfo.
13 Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
Hena na ɔde no sii asase so? Hena na ɔde wiase nyinaa hyɛɛ ne nsa?
14 If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
Sɛ ɛyɛɛ ne pɛ na oyii ne Honhom ne nʼahome a,
15 all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
anka adesamma nyinaa bɛbɔ mu ayera, na onipa bɛsan akɔ mfutuma mu.
16 If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
“Sɛ mowɔ nhumu a, muntie eyi; muntie nea meka.
17 Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
So obi a okyi atɛntrenee betumi adi nnipa so? Mubetumi abu Ɔtreneeni kɛse no fɔ ana?
18 He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
Ɛnyɛ Ɔno na ɔka kyerɛ ahemfo se, ‘Mo so nni mfaso,’ na ɔka kyerɛɛ atitiriw se, ‘Moyɛ atirimɔdenfo,’
19 He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
nea ɔnhwɛ mmapɔmma anim na onyiyi adefo ne ahiafo mu, efisɛ wɔn nyinaa yɛ ne nsa ano adwuma.
20 They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
Wowuwu mmere tiaa bi mu, wɔ anadwo dasu mu; nnipa no ho wosow na wɔsen kɔ; ahoɔdenfo totɔ a emfi nipa.
21 For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
“Nʼani hwɛ nnipa akwan; na ohu wɔn anammɔntu biara.
22 There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
Baabiara nni hɔ a aduru sum, sum kabii, a amumɔyɛfo betumi ahintaw.
23 God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
Ɛho nhia Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛhwehwɛ nnipa mu bio, a enti ɛsɛ sɛ wɔba nʼanim begye atemmu.
24 He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
Ɔbobɔ abirɛmpɔn gu a ɔnyɛ nhwehwɛmu biara, na ɔde afoforo sisi wɔn anan mu.
25 Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
Efisɛ ohu wɔn nneyɛe, otu wɔn gu anadwo na wɔdwerɛw wɔn.
26 He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
Otua wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm so ka wɔ faako a obiara betumi ahu wɔn,
27 because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
efisɛ wɔman fii nʼakyi kɔe na wɔampɛ nʼakwan biara anhwɛ.
28 They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
Wɔmaa ahiafo sufrɛ duu nʼanim na ɛma ɔtee mmɔborɔni su.
29 Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
Nanso sɛ ɔyɛ komm a, hena na obetumi abu no fɔ? Sɛ ɔde nʼanim hintaw nso a, hena na obehu no? Nanso odi onipa ne ɔman so pɛpɛɛpɛ,
30 a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
ɔmma onipa a onnim Nyame nni hene, sɛnea ɔrensum nnipa no mfiri.
31 If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
“Sɛ ɛba sɛ onipa ka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Mayɛ bɔne na merenyɛ bɔne bio.
32 Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
Kyerɛ me na minhu; na sɛ mayɛ bɔne a, merenyɛ saa bio.’
33 then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
So ɛsɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn gyina nea woka so tua wo ka, wɔ bere a woayɛ sɛ worennu wo ho ana? Ɛsɛ sɛ wusi gyinae, ɛnyɛ me; enti ka nea wunim kyerɛ me.
34 For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
“Nnipa a wɔwɔ ntease pae mu ka, nimdefo a wotie me ka kyerɛ me se,
35 ‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
‘Hiob nkasa nimdeɛ kwan so; aba biara nni ne kasa mu.’
36 If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
Ao, sɛ wɔsɔɔ Hiob hwɛ kɔɔ akyiri a anka eye, efisɛ oyiyii nsɛm ano sɛ omumɔyɛfo!
37 Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
Ɔde atuatew ka ne bɔne ho; ɔde ahantan bɔ ne nsam gu yɛn so na ɔma ne nsɛm a ɔka tia Onyankopɔn no dɔɔso.”
