< Job 20 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said:
Na Naamani Sofar buaa sɛ,
2 For this do my thoughts lead me to reply, And for this is my ardor within me.
“Me tiri mu ntene me, na ɛhyɛ me sɛ memmua ɛfiri sɛ me ho yera me yie.
3 I have heard my shameful rebuke; And the spirit, from my understanding, answereth for me.
Mate animka bi a ɛgu me ho fi, na nteaseɛ a menya no hyɛ me sɛ memmua.
4 Knowest thou not, that from the days of old, From the time when man was placed upon the earth,
“Ampa ara wonim sɛdeɛ nneɛma teɛ firi tete, ɛfiri ɛberɛ a wɔde nnipa duaa asase so,
5 The triumphing of the wicked hath been short, And the joy of the impious but for a moment?
sɛ amumuyɛfoɔ ani gye ɛberɛ tiawa bi mu, na wɔn a wɔnnsuro nyame nso anigyeɛ nkyɛ.
6 Though his greatness mount up to the heavens, And his head reach to the clouds,
Ɛwom sɛ nʼahohoahoa kɔduru ɔsoro, na ne tiri kɔpem omununkum deɛ,
7 Yet shall he perish for ever, and be mingled with dust; They who saw him shall say, Where is he?
nanso, ɔbɛyera afebɔɔ te sɛ nʼankasa agyanan; na wɔn a wɔhunuu no no bɛbisa sɛ, ‘Ɔwɔ he?’
8 He shall flee away like a dream, and shall not be found; Yea, he shall disappear like a vision of the nigh.
Ɔtu kɔ te sɛ daeɛ, na wɔrenhunu no bio. Wɔtwam kɔ te sɛ anadwo mu anisoadehunu.
9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more, And his dwelling-place shall never more behold him.
Ani a ɛhunu noɔ no renhunu no bio; na ne siberɛ nso renhunu no bio.
10 His sons shall seek the favor of the poor, And their hands shall give back his wealth.
Ne mma bɛsrɛ adeɛ afiri ahiafoɔ hɔ; ɛsɛ sɛ nʼankasa de nʼahonya sane ma.
11 His bones are full of his youth, But they 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 wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,
“Ɛwom sɛ bɔne yɛ nʼanom dɛ na ɔde sie ne tɛkrɛma ase;
13 Though he cherish it, and will not part with it, And keep it fast in his mouth,
ɛwom sɛ ɔntumi nnyaa mu na ɔma ɛka ne dodom,
14 Yet his meat shall be changed within him, And become to him the poison of asps.
nanso, nʼaduane bɛyɛ nwono wɔ ne yafunu mu; ɛbɛyɛ ɔtweaseɛ ano borɔ wɔ ne mu.
15 He hath glutted himself with riches, And he shall throw them up again; Yea, God shall cast them out of his body.
Ɔbɛfe ahonyadeɛ a ɔmeneeɛ no; Onyankopɔn bɛma ne yafunu apu agu.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; The tongue of the viper shall destroy him.
Ɔbɛfefe awɔ borɔ; Ɔnanka se bɛkum no.
17 He shall never see the flowing streams, And the rivers of honey and milk.
Ɔrennya nsuwansuwa no nnom nsubɔntene a nufosuo ne ɛwoɔ sene wɔ mu no.
18 The fruits of his toil he shall give back, and shall not enjoy them: It is substance to be restored, and he shall not rejoice therein.
Ɔbɛdane deɛ ɔbrɛ nyaeɛ no aba a ɔrenni bi; ɔremfa nʼadwadie mu mfasoɔ nnye nʼani.
19 Because he hath oppressed and abandoned the poor, And seized upon the house which he did not build;
Ɛfiri sɛ ɔhyɛɛ ahiafoɔ so ma wɔdii ohia buruburo; ɔde ne nsa ato afie a ɛnyɛ ɔno na ɔsiiɛ so.
20 Because he knew no rest in his bosom, He shall not save that in which he delighteth.
“Ampa ara ɔrennya ahomegyeɛ mfiri deɛ wapere anya no mu; ɔrentumi mfa nʼakoradeɛ nnye ne ho nkwa.
21 Because nothing escaped his greediness, His prosperity shall not endure.
Wafom nneɛma nyinaa awie; ne nkɔsoɔ nnuru baabiara.
22 In the fulness of his abundance he shall be brought low; Every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
Nʼadedodoɔ nyinaa mu no, ɔbɛkɔ ɔhaw mu; na amanehunu a emu yɛ den bɛto no.
23 He shall, indeed, have wherewith to fill himself: God shall send upon him the fury of his anger, And rain it down upon him for his food.
Ɛberɛ a nʼafuru ayɛ ma no, Onyankopɔn bɛtɔ nʼabufuo ogya agu ne so na wabobɔ no basabasa.
24 If he fleeth from the iron weapon, The bow of brass shall pierce him through.
Ɛwom sɛ ɔdwane firi dadeɛ akodeɛ ano nanso bɛmma a ano yɛ kɔbere mfrafraeɛ bɛwɔ no.
25 He draweth the arrow, and it cometh forth from his body; Yea, the glittering steel cometh out of his gall. Terrors are upon him;
Wɔbɛtwe bɛmma no firi nʼakyi, ano hyɛnhyɛn no bɛfiri ne brɛboɔ mu. Ehu bɛba ne so;
26 Calamity of every kind is treasured up for him. A fire not blown shall consume him; It shall consume whatever is left in his tent.
esum kabii bɛduru nʼakoradeɛ. Ogya a wɔmfite mu bɛhye no, na asɛe deɛ aka wɔ ne ntomadan mu.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.
Ɔsoro bɛda nʼafɔdie adi, na asase asɔre atia no.
28 The substance of his house shall disappear; It shall flow away in the day of His wrath.
Nsuyire bɛtwe ne fie akɔ, saa ara na nsuworosoɔ bɛyɛ Onyankopɔn abufuhyeɛ da no.
29 Such is the portion of the wicked man from God, And the inheritance appointed for him by the Almighty.
Yei ne hyɛberɛ a Onyankopɔn de ma amumuyɛfoɔ, awugyadeɛ a Onyankopɔn de ato wɔn hɔ.”

< Job 20 >