< Job 12 >
2 "No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
“Ampa ara mone nnipa no, na mowu a na nyansa asa!
3 But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn't know such things as these?
Nanso mewɔ adwene sɛ mo ara na monnsene me. Hwan na ɔnnim saa nneɛma yi nyinaa?
4 I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke.
“Mayɛ aseredeɛ ama me nnamfonom, mefrɛɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔbuaeɛ. Mayɛ aseredeɛ tata, nanso metene, na me ho nni asɛm.
5 In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips.
Nnipa a wɔn ho tɔ wɔn bu amanehunu animtiaa sɛdeɛ wɔbu wɔn a wɔn nan rewatiri no awieeɛ animtiaa.
6 The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands.
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 "But ask the animals, now, and they shall teach you; the birds of the sky, and they shall tell you.
“Bisa mmoa no, na wɔbɛkyerɛ wo anaasɛ ewiem nnomaa no, na wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you. The fish of the sea shall declare to you.
anaasɛ kasa kyerɛ asase, na ɛbɛkyerɛ wo, anaasɛ ma ɛpo mu mpataa nka nkyerɛ wo.
9 Who doesn't know that in all these, the hand of the LORD has done this,
Wɔn nyinaa mu hwan na ɔnnim sɛ Awurade nsa na ayɛ yei.
10 in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all humankind?
Ne nsam na abɔdeɛ nyinaa ahome wɔ ne adasamma nyinaa ahome.
11 Doesn't the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food?
Aso nsɔ nsɛm nnhwɛ, sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no anaa?
12 With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding.
Wɔnnya nyansa mfiri mpanin nkyɛn, na ɛnyɛ ɔnyinkyerɛ na ɛde nteaseɛ ba anaa?
13 "With him is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding.
“Nyansa ne tumi yɛ Onyankopɔn dea; afotuo ne nteaseɛ yɛ ne dea.
14 Look, he breaks down, and it can't be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release.
Deɛ ɔbubu guo no, obiara rentumi nsi; deɛ ɔde no to nneduadan mu no, obiara rentumi nyi no.
15 Look, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, 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 is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.
Ahoɔden ne nkonimdie wɔ no osisifoɔ ne deɛ wɔsisi noɔ nso wɔ no.
17 He leads counselors away stripped. He makes judges fools.
Ɔpa afotufoɔ ho ntoma ma wɔkɔ na ɔma atemmufoɔ yɛ nkwasea.
18 He loosens the bond of kings. He binds their waist with a belt.
Ɔworɔ ahemfo nkyehoma na ɔde abɔsoɔ bɔ wɔn asene.
19 He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.
Ɔpa asɔfoɔ ho ntoma, na ɔtu nnipa a wɔn ase atim akyɛre gu.
20 He removes the speech of those who are trusted, and takes away the understanding of the elders.
Ɔka afotufoɔ a wɔgye wɔn die no kasaboa hyɛ, na ɔgye mpanimfoɔ nhunumu.
21 He pours contempt on princes, and loosens the belt of the strong.
Ɔde animguaseɛ gu atitire so na ɔtintim gye ahoɔdenfoɔ nsam akodeɛ.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings out to light the shadow of death.
Ɔda esum mu nneɛma a ahinta adi na ɔde esum kabii ba hann mu.
23 He increases the nations, and he destroys them. He enlarges the nations, and he leads them captive.
Ɔyɛ aman akɛseɛ, na ɔsɛe wɔn; ɔtrɛ aman mu, na ɔhwete wɔn mu.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, and causes them to wander in a wilderness where 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. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.
Wɔhwehwɛ wɔ esum mu a wɔnni kanea; na ɔma wɔtɔ ntintan sɛ asabofoɔ.