Job 12
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
2 Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
“Ampa ara mone nnipa no, na mowu a na nyansa asa!
3 I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?
Nanso mewɔ adwene sɛ mo ara na monnsene me. Hwan na ɔnnim saa nneɛma yi nyinaa?
4 I am as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
“Mayɛ aseredeɛ ama me nnamfonom, mefrɛɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔbuaeɛ. Mayɛ aseredeɛ tata, nanso metene, na me ho nni asɛm.
5 To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
Nnipa a wɔn ho tɔ wɔn bu amanehunu animtiaa sɛdeɛ wɔbu wɔn a wɔn nan rewatiri no awieeɛ animtiaa.
6 Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
Wɔmmfa wɔn nsa nka akorɔmfoɔ ntomadan, na wɔn a wɔma Onyankopɔn bo fuo no wɔ banbɔ na Onyankopɔn bɔ deɛ ɔde ma wɔn ho ban.
7 Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
“Bisa mmoa no, na wɔbɛkyerɛ wo anaasɛ ewiem nnomaa no, na wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo
8 Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
anaasɛ kasa kyerɛ asase, na ɛbɛkyerɛ wo, anaasɛ ma ɛpo mu mpataa nka nkyerɛ wo.
9 Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
Wɔn nyinaa mu hwan na ɔnnim sɛ Awurade nsa na ayɛ yei.
10 [He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
Ne nsam na abɔdeɛ nyinaa ahome wɔ ne adasamma nyinaa ahome.
11 Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
Aso nsɔ nsɛm nnhwɛ, sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no anaa?
12 So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
Wɔnnya nyansa mfiri mpanin nkyɛn, na ɛnyɛ ɔnyinkyerɛ na ɛde nteaseɛ ba anaa?
13 That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
“Nyansa ne tumi yɛ Onyankopɔn dea; afotuo ne nteaseɛ yɛ ne dea.
14 Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
Deɛ ɔbubu guo no, obiara rentumi nsi; deɛ ɔde no to nneduadan mu no, obiara rentumi nyi no.
15 Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
Sɛ ɔma osuo gyae tɔ a, asase no so yɛ wesee; sɛ ɔgyaa osutɔ mu a, ɛsɛe asase no.
16 With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
Ahoɔden ne nkonimdie wɔ no osisifoɔ ne deɛ wɔsisi noɔ nso wɔ no.
17 He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
Ɔpa afotufoɔ ho ntoma ma wɔkɔ na ɔma atemmufoɔ yɛ nkwasea.
18 He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
Ɔworɔ ahemfo nkyehoma na ɔde abɔsoɔ bɔ wɔn asene.
19 He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
Ɔpa asɔfoɔ ho ntoma, na ɔtu nnipa a wɔn ase atim akyɛre gu.
20 He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
Ɔka afotufoɔ a wɔgye wɔn die no kasaboa hyɛ, na ɔgye mpanimfoɔ nhunumu.
21 He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
Ɔde animguaseɛ gu atitire so na ɔtintim gye ahoɔdenfoɔ nsam akodeɛ.
22 He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
Ɔda esum mu nneɛma a ahinta adi na ɔde esum kabii ba hann mu.
23 He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
Ɔyɛ aman akɛseɛ, na ɔsɛe wɔn; ɔtrɛ aman mu, na ɔhwete wɔn mu.
24 He taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when there is no way.
Ɔgye ewiase akannifoɔ adwene firi wɔn nsam; na ɔma wɔkyinkyini asase wesee a ɛkwan nna soɔ so.
25 They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
Wɔhwehwɛ wɔ esum mu a wɔnni kanea; na ɔma wɔtɔ ntintan sɛ asabofoɔ.
