Job 3
1 After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.
Akyire no, Hiob kasaeɛ, na ɔdomee ɛda a wɔwoo no.
2 And Job commenced, and said,
Ɔkaa sɛ,
3 Oh that the day whereon I was born might perish, and the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived.
“Ma ɛda a wɔwoo me no nyera, ne anadwo a wɔkaa sɛ, ‘Wɔawo ɔbabarima no!’
4 May that day be [covered with] darkness; may not God from above inquire for it, and may no light beam upon it.
Saa ɛda no nnuru sum; mma Ɔsoro Onyankopɔn nhwehwɛ akyire kwan; mma hann biara ntɔ ngu so.
5 Oh that darkness and the shadow of death might defile it; may a cloud rest upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
Ma esum ne owusum nnye no mfa; ma omununkum nkata so; na esum mmunkam ne hann so.
6 Yon night — let darkness seize upon it; let it not be united to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the [periods lighted by the] moon.
Ma esum kabii nnye saa anadwo no mfa; ma wɔnyi saa anadwo no mfiri asranna so na wɔmmfa nhyɛ ɔbosome biara mu.
7 Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.
Saa anadwo no nyɛ obonini; mma wɔnnte anigyeɛ nteam wɔ mu.
8 Let those denounce it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning cry.
Ma wɔn a wɔdome nna no nnome saa ɛda no; wɔn a wɔayɛ krado sɛ wɔbɛkanyane dɛnkyɛmmirampɔn no.
9 Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it hope for light, and there be none; and let it not behold the eyelids of the morning-dawn;
Ma nʼanɔpa nsoromma nnuru sum; na ɔntwɛne adekyeeɛ kwa a ɔnhunu anɔpa owia nsensaneɛ a ɛdi ɛkan,
10 Because God closed not against me the doors of the womb, and thus concealed trouble from my eyes.
ɛfiri sɛ anto deɛ ɔwoo me awotwaa mu ama wawo me, anka mʼani nhunu saa abɛbrɛsɛ yi.
11 Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
“Adɛn enti na manwu awoeɛ hɔ, ɛberɛ a mefiri me maame awotwaa mu no?
12 Wherefore were knees ready to receive me? and for what purpose were breasts there that I might suck?
Adɛn enti na nkotodwe gyee me ne nufoɔ sɛ mennum?
13 For now should I be lying still and be quiet; I should sleep: then would I be at rest,
Anka sɛsɛɛ meda hɔ asomdwoeɛ mu; anka mada regye mʼahome
14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build up ruined places for themselves;
me ne ewiase ahemfo ne fotufoɔ, wɔn a wɔsisii adan maa wɔn ho na ɛnnɛ yi abubuo no,
15 Or with princes possessing gold, who fill their houses with silver;
me ne sodifoɔ a na wɔwɔ sika kɔkɔɔ, wɔn a wɔde dwetɛ hyɛɛ wɔn afie mu ma.
16 Or as an untimely birth, hidden [from view] I should not exist; as infants that never have seen the light;
Anaasɛ adɛn enti na wɔansie me sɛ ɔpɔn ba, te sɛ abadomaa a wanhunu adekyeeɛ hann da?
17 There [where] the wicked cease from troubling; and where the exhausted weary are at rest;
Ɛhɔ na amumuyɛfoɔ gyae basabasayɛ, na abrɛfoɔ nya ahomegyeɛ.
18 [Where] the prisoners repose together, [and] they hear no more the taskmaster's voice.
Nneduafoɔ nso nya wɔn ahofadie; na wɔnte nnommumfoɔ wuranom ateatea bio.
19 The small with the great is there, and the servant free from his master.
Nketewa ne akɛseɛ wɔ hɔ, na akoa de ne ho firi ne wura nsam.
20 Wherefore giveth He now light to the labor-laden, and life unto the bitter in soul?
“Adɛn enti na wɔma mmɔborɔfoɔ hann, na ɔkra mu ahohiahiafoɔ nya nkwa?
21 Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
Wɔn kɔn dɔ owuo, nanso ɛmma. Wɔbrɛ hwehwɛ owuo sene sɛdeɛ wɔhwehwɛ akoradeɛ.
22 Who would rejoice even to exulting, who would be glad could they but find a grave?
Sɛ wɔwu a, wɔn ani gye na wɔduru damena mu a, wɔdi ahurisie.
23 [Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God hath placed a fence?
Adɛn enti na wɔde nkwa ma onipa a ɔnni daakye, deɛ Onyankopɔn aka no ahyɛ mu?
24 For before my food cometh my groaning, and like the water are poured forth my loud complaints.
Ahomekokoguo adane mʼaduane; na mʼapinisie gu te sɛ nsuo.
25 Because what I greatly dreaded is come upon me, and what I apprehended is come unto me.
Deɛ na mesuro no aba me so; deɛ na ɛbɔ me hu no ato me.
26 I have had no safety, and no quiet, and no rest; and [now] harrowing trouble is come.
Menni ahotɔ, menni asomdwoeɛ; menni ahomegyeɛ na mmom, ɔhaw nko ara.”
