< Job 21 >

1 Then Job answered and said:
Hiob ɖo nya ŋu nɛ be,
2 Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
“Ɖo to nyuie nàse nye nyawo, esia nenye akɔfafa si nànam.
3 Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Migbɔ dzi ɖi nam, ne maƒo nu eye ne meƒo nu vɔ la, miate ŋu ayi miaƒe alɔmeɖeɖe dzi.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
“Amegbetɔe mele konyi fam na? Nu ka ta nyemagbe dzigbɔɖeanyi o?
5 Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Mikpɔm ɖa, ne miaƒe mo nawɔ yaa eye miaƒu asi nu.
6 Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
Ne mebu nu sia ŋuti la ŋɔ dziam eye nye ameti blibo la medzona nyanyanya.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
Nu ka ta ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔa agbe, tsina, kua amegã, eye woƒe ŋusẽ dzina ɖe edzi ɖo?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Wonɔa agbe, kpɔa wo viwo lia ke heƒoa xlã wo eye woƒe dzidzimeviwo tsina le wo ŋkume.
9 Their houses are safe, without fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Woƒe aƒewo me le dedie, wovo tso vɔvɔ̃ ƒe asi me eye Mawu ƒe ameƒoti mevaa wo dzi o.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Woƒe nyitsuwo megbea asiyɔyɔ o, woƒe nyinɔwo dzia vi eye fu megena le wo ƒo o.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Woɖea wo viwo doa goe abe lãha ene eye wo vi suewo nɔa fefem henɔa ɣe ɖum.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Wodzia ha ɖe asiʋuiwo kple kasaŋkuwo ŋu eye wotua aglo ɖe kpẽ ƒe ɖiɖi ŋu.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
Woɖua woƒe ƒewo le dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ me eye woyia yɔ me le ŋutifafa me (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto God: 'Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways.
gake wogblɔna na Mawu be, ‘Ɖe asi le mía ŋu! Medzro mí be míanya wò mɔwo o.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
Ame kae nye Ŋusẽkatãtɔ be míasubɔe? Viɖe ka míakpɔ ne míedo gbe ɖa nɛ?’
16 Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Evɔa woƒe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ mele woawo ŋutɔ ƒe asi me o, eya ta menɔ adzɔge na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aɖaŋudede.
17 How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
“Ke hã la, zi nenie ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe akaɖi tsina? Zi nenie dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔna ɖe wo dzi, esi nye nu si Mawu ɖo ɖi na wo le eƒe dziku me?
18 That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
Zi nenie wole abe gbe ƒuƒu si ya lɔ ɖe nu alo atsa si ahom lɔ ɖe nu ene?
19 'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
Wogblɔ be, ‘Mawu ɖo amegbetɔ ƒe tohehe ɖi na via ŋutsuwo.’ Anyo be wòahe to na amea ŋutɔ, ne wòanya nu si wònye!
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkuwo nekpɔ eƒe gbegblẽ, eye wòano Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe dɔmedzoekplu
21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
elabena ɖe wòtsɔ ɖe le eme na ƒometɔ siwo wògblẽ ɖe megbe esi ɣleti siwo woɖo ɖi nɛ la wu nua?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He that judgeth those that are high.
“Ɖe ame aɖe ate ŋu afia gɔmesese Mawu, esi wònye eyae drɔ̃a ʋɔnu ame kɔkɔtɔ gɔ̃ hã?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
Ame aɖe ku esi eƒe agbe ɖo vivime, wòle dedinɔnɔ me eye wòɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ,
24 His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
eƒe ŋutilã kpɔ nunyiame nyuitɔ eye ƒutomemi yɔ eƒe ƒuwo me fũu.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
Ame bubu ku le eƒe luʋɔ ƒe nuxaxa me eye mese vivi na nu vivi aɖeke kpɔ o.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
Ke wo ame evea mlɔ kasanu le ke me, eye ŋɔviwo ɖi ba ɖe wo kple evea dzi.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
“Menya nu siwo susum miele la nyuie kple nu vɔ̃ɖi siwo ɖom miele be miadze agɔ le dzinye.
28 For ye say: 'Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
Miegblɔ be, ‘Afi ka ame xɔŋkɔ la ƒe aƒe le eye agbadɔ si me ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔ la ɖe?’
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
Miebia gbe mɔzɔlawo kpɔ oa? Mietsɔ ɖeke le woƒe nuteƒekpɔkpɔ si wogblɔ fia mi la me be
30 That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
woɖea ame vɔ̃ɖi le dzɔgbevɔ̃egbe, eye woɖenɛ le dzikugbe oa?
31 But who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Ame kae ɖe eƒe agbe vlo si nɔm wòle la ɖe mo nɛ kpɔ? Ame kae ɖoa nu tovo si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ?
32 For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
Wokɔnɛ yia yɔdo gbɔe eye wodzɔa eƒe yɔdokpe ŋu.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him, and all men draw after him, as there were innumerable before him.
Ke siwo le balime la vivi enu, amewo katã dze eyome eye ameha gã aɖe si womate ŋu axlẽ o la dze ŋgɔ nɛ.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
“Eya ta aleke miate ŋu awɔ atsɔ miaƒe bometsinyawo afa akɔ nam mahã? Naneke mele miaƒe nyaŋuɖoɖowo me wu alakpa o!”

< Job 21 >