Job 21
1 And Job answers and says:
Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
2 “Hear my word diligently, And this is your consolation.
“Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
3 Bear with me, and I speak, And after my speaking—you may deride.
Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
4 [Is] my complaint [against] man? And if [so], why may my temper not become short?
“Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
5 Turn to me, and be astonished, And put hand to mouth.
Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
6 Indeed, if I have remembered, then I have been troubled. And my flesh has taken fright.
Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
7 Why do the wicked live? They have become old, Indeed, they have been mighty in wealth.
Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
8 Their seed is established, Before their face with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
9 Their houses [are] peace without fear, Nor [is] a rod of God on them.
Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
10 His bullock breeds without fail. His cow brings forth safely, and does not miscarry.
Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
11 They send forth their sucklings as a flock, And their children skip,
Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
12 They lift [themselves] up at timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of a pipe.
Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
Wɔdi yie wɔn nkwanna mu na wɔkɔ damena mu asomdwoeɛ mu. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say to God, Turn aside from us, And the knowledge of Your ways We have not desired.
Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
15 What [is] the Mighty One that we serve Him? And what do we profit when we meet with Him?
Hwan ne otumfoɔ no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpaeɛ a mfasoɔ bɛn na yɛbɛnya?’
16 Behold, their good [is] not in their hand (The counsel of the wicked Has been far from me).
Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished, And their calamity comes on them? He apportions pangs in His anger.
“Nanso mpɛn ahe na wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, deɛ Onyankopɔn firi nʼabufuo mu de ba no?
18 They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a windstorm has stolen away,
Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
19 God lays up for his sons his sorrow, He gives repayment to him—and he knows.
Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
20 His own eyes see his destruction, And he drinks of the wrath of the Mighty.
Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
21 For what [is] his delight in his house after him, And the number of his months cut off?
Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
22 Does [one] teach knowledge to God, Since He judges [those] on high?
“Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
23 This [one] dies in his perfect strength, Wholly at ease and quiet.
Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
24 His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow moistens his bones.
na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
25 And this [one] dies with a bitter soul, And has not eaten with gladness.
Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
26 Together they lie down on the dust, And the worm covers them over.
Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
27 Behold, I have known your thoughts, And the schemes against me you do wrongfully.
“Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
28 For you say, Where [is] the house of the noble? And where the tent—the dwelling places of the wicked?
Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
29 Have you not asked those passing by the way? And do you not know their signs?
Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
30 That the wicked is spared to a day of calamity. They are brought to a day of wrath.
onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
31 Who declares his way to his face? And [for] that which he has done, Who gives repayment to him?
Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
32 And he is brought to the graves, And a watch is kept over the heap.
Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
33 The clods of the valley have been sweet to him, And he draws every man after him, And there is no numbering before him.
Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
34 And how do you comfort me [with] vanity, And trespass has been left in your answers?”
“Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
