Hiob 21
1 Hiob ɖo nya ŋu nɛ be,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Ɖo to nyuie nàse nye nyawo, esia nenye akɔfafa si nànam.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Migbɔ dzi ɖi nam, ne maƒo nu eye ne meƒo nu vɔ la, miate ŋu ayi miaƒe alɔmeɖeɖe dzi.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 “Amegbetɔe mele konyi fam na? Nu ka ta nyemagbe dzigbɔɖeanyi o?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Mikpɔm ɖa, ne miaƒe mo nawɔ yaa eye miaƒu asi nu.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Ne mebu nu sia ŋuti la ŋɔ dziam eye nye ameti blibo la medzona nyanyanya.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Nu ka ta ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔa agbe, tsina, kua amegã, eye woƒe ŋusẽ dzina ɖe edzi ɖo?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Wonɔa agbe, kpɔa wo viwo lia ke heƒoa xlã wo eye woƒe dzidzimeviwo tsina le wo ŋkume.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Woƒe aƒewo me le dedie, wovo tso vɔvɔ̃ ƒe asi me eye Mawu ƒe ameƒoti mevaa wo dzi o.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Woƒe nyitsuwo megbea asiyɔyɔ o, woƒe nyinɔwo dzia vi eye fu megena le wo ƒo o.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Woɖea wo viwo doa goe abe lãha ene eye wo vi suewo nɔa fefem henɔa ɣe ɖum.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 Wodzia ha ɖe asiʋuiwo kple kasaŋkuwo ŋu eye wotua aglo ɖe kpẽ ƒe ɖiɖi ŋu.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 gake wogblɔna na Mawu be, ‘Ɖe asi le mía ŋu! Medzro mí be míanya wò mɔwo o.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Ame kae nye Ŋusẽkatãtɔ be míasubɔe? Viɖe ka míakpɔ ne míedo gbe ɖa nɛ?’
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Evɔa woƒe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ mele woawo ŋutɔ ƒe asi me o, eya ta menɔ adzɔge na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aɖaŋudede.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
17 “Ke hã la, zi nenie ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe akaɖi tsina? Zi nenie dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔna ɖe wo dzi, esi nye nu si Mawu ɖo ɖi na wo le eƒe dziku me?
How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Zi nenie wole abe gbe ƒuƒu si ya lɔ ɖe nu alo atsa si ahom lɔ ɖe nu ene?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Wogblɔ be, ‘Mawu ɖo amegbetɔ ƒe tohehe ɖi na via ŋutsuwo.’ Anyo be wòahe to na amea ŋutɔ, ne wòanya nu si wònye!
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkuwo nekpɔ eƒe gbegblẽ, eye wòano Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe dɔmedzoekplu
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 elabena ɖe wòtsɔ ɖe le eme na ƒometɔ siwo wògblẽ ɖe megbe esi ɣleti siwo woɖo ɖi nɛ la wu nua?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 “Ɖe ame aɖe ate ŋu afia gɔmesese Mawu, esi wònye eyae drɔ̃a ʋɔnu ame kɔkɔtɔ gɔ̃ hã?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Ame aɖe ku esi eƒe agbe ɖo vivime, wòle dedinɔnɔ me eye wòɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ,
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 eƒe ŋutilã kpɔ nunyiame nyuitɔ eye ƒutomemi yɔ eƒe ƒuwo me fũu.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Ame bubu ku le eƒe luʋɔ ƒe nuxaxa me eye mese vivi na nu vivi aɖeke kpɔ o.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Ke wo ame evea mlɔ kasanu le ke me, eye ŋɔviwo ɖi ba ɖe wo kple evea dzi.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 “Menya nu siwo susum miele la nyuie kple nu vɔ̃ɖi siwo ɖom miele be miadze agɔ le dzinye.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Miegblɔ be, ‘Afi ka ame xɔŋkɔ la ƒe aƒe le eye agbadɔ si me ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔ la ɖe?’
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Miebia gbe mɔzɔlawo kpɔ oa? Mietsɔ ɖeke le woƒe nuteƒekpɔkpɔ si wogblɔ fia mi la me be
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 woɖea ame vɔ̃ɖi le dzɔgbevɔ̃egbe, eye woɖenɛ le dzikugbe oa?
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Ame kae ɖe eƒe agbe vlo si nɔm wòle la ɖe mo nɛ kpɔ? Ame kae ɖoa nu tovo si wòwɔ la teƒe nɛ?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Wokɔnɛ yia yɔdo gbɔe eye wodzɔa eƒe yɔdokpe ŋu.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Ke siwo le balime la vivi enu, amewo katã dze eyome eye ameha gã aɖe si womate ŋu axlẽ o la dze ŋgɔ nɛ.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 “Eya ta aleke miate ŋu awɔ atsɔ miaƒe bometsinyawo afa akɔ nam mahã? Naneke mele miaƒe nyaŋuɖoɖowo me wu alakpa o!”
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
