< Job 20 >
1 Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
Na Naamani Sofar buaa sɛ,
2 I did not suppose that you would answer thus: neither do you understand more than I.
“Me tiri mu ntene me, na ɛhyɛ me sɛ memmua ɛfiri sɛ me ho yera me yie.
3 I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
Mate animka bi a ɛgu me ho fi, na nteaseɛ a menya no hyɛ me sɛ memmua.
4 Hast you [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
“Ampa ara wonim sɛdeɛ nneɛma teɛ firi tete, ɛfiri ɛberɛ a wɔde nnipa duaa asase so,
5 But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ani gye ɛberɛ tiawa bi mu, na wɔn a wɔnnsuro nyame nso anigyeɛ nkyɛ.
6 although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
Ɛwom sɛ nʼahohoahoa kɔduru ɔsoro, na ne tiri kɔpem omununkum deɛ,
7 For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
nanso, ɔbɛyera afebɔɔ te sɛ nʼankasa agyanan; na wɔn a wɔhunuu no no bɛbisa sɛ, ‘Ɔwɔ he?’
8 Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
Ɔtu kɔ te sɛ daeɛ, na wɔrenhunu no bio. Wɔtwam kɔ te sɛ anadwo mu anisoadehunu.
9 The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
Ani a ɛhunu noɔ no renhunu no bio; na ne siberɛ nso renhunu no bio.
10 Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
Ne mma bɛsrɛ adeɛ afiri ahiafoɔ hɔ; ɛsɛ sɛ nʼankasa de nʼahonya sane ma.
11 His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
Ne mmeranteberɛ mu ahoɔden a ahyɛ ne nnompe ma no ne no bɛkɔ mfuturo mu.
12 Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
“Ɛwom sɛ bɔne yɛ nʼanom dɛ na ɔde sie ne tɛkrɛma ase;
13 though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
ɛwom sɛ ɔntumi nnyaa mu na ɔma ɛka ne dodom,
14 yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
nanso, nʼaduane bɛyɛ nwono wɔ ne yafunu mu; ɛbɛyɛ ɔtweaseɛ ano borɔ wɔ ne mu.
15 [His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
Ɔbɛfe ahonyadeɛ a ɔmeneeɛ no; Onyankopɔn bɛma ne yafunu apu agu.
16 And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue kill him.
Ɔbɛfefe awɔ borɔ; Ɔnanka se bɛkum no.
17 Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
Ɔrennya nsuwansuwa no nnom nsubɔntene a nufosuo ne ɛwoɔ sene wɔ mu no.
18 He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he can’t swallow.
Ɔbɛdane deɛ ɔbrɛ nyaeɛ no aba a ɔrenni bi; ɔremfa nʼadwadie mu mfasoɔ nnye nʼani.
19 For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
Ɛfiri sɛ ɔhyɛɛ ahiafoɔ so ma wɔdii ohia buruburo; ɔde ne nsa ato afie a ɛnyɛ ɔno na ɔsiiɛ so.
20 There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
“Ampa ara ɔrennya ahomegyeɛ mfiri deɛ wapere anya no mu; ɔrentumi mfa nʼakoradeɛ nnye ne ho nkwa.
21 There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
Wafom nneɛma nyinaa awie; ne nkɔsoɔ nnuru baabiara.
22 But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
Nʼadedodoɔ nyinaa mu no, ɔbɛkɔ ɔhaw mu; na amanehunu a emu yɛ den bɛto no.
23 If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
Ɛberɛ a nʼafuru ayɛ ma no, Onyankopɔn bɛtɔ nʼabufuo ogya agu ne so na wabobɔ no basabasa.
24 And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
Ɛwom sɛ ɔdwane firi dadeɛ akodeɛ ano nanso bɛmma a ano yɛ kɔbere mfrafraeɛ bɛwɔ no.
25 And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
Wɔbɛtwe bɛmma no firi nʼakyi, ano hyɛnhyɛn no bɛfiri ne brɛboɔ mu. Ehu bɛba ne so;
26 And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
esum kabii bɛduru nʼakoradeɛ. Ogya a wɔmfite mu bɛhye no, na asɛe deɛ aka wɔ ne ntomadan mu.
27 And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
Ɔsoro bɛda nʼafɔdie adi, na asase asɔre atia no.
28 Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
Nsuyire bɛtwe ne fie akɔ, saa ara na nsuworosoɔ bɛyɛ Onyankopɔn abufuhyeɛ da no.
29 This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
Yei ne hyɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn de ma amumuyɛfoɔ, awugyadeɛ a Onyankopɔn de ato wɔn hɔ.”