Hiob 21
1 Hiob ɖo nya ŋu nɛ be,
But Job answered and said:
2 “Ɖo to nyuie nàse nye nyawo, esia nenye akɔfafa si nànam.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
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 speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 “Amegbetɔe mele konyi fam na? Nu ka ta nyemagbe dzigbɔɖeanyi o?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Mikpɔm ɖa, ne miaƒe mo nawɔ yaa eye miaƒu asi nu.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Ne mebu nu sia ŋuti la ŋɔ dziam eye nye ameti blibo la medzona nyanyanya.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Nu ka ta ame vɔ̃ɖiwo nɔa agbe, tsina, kua amegã, eye woƒe ŋusẽ dzina ɖe edzi ɖo?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Wonɔa agbe, kpɔa wo viwo lia ke heƒoa xlã wo eye woƒe dzidzimeviwo tsina le wo ŋkume.
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring 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 in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
10 Woƒe nyitsuwo megbea asiyɔyɔ o, woƒe nyinɔwo dzia vi eye fu megena le wo ƒo o.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
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 dance.
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 spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-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! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Ame kae nye Ŋusẽkatãtɔ be míasubɔe? Viɖe ka míakpɔ ne míedo gbe ɖa nɛ?’
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Evɔa woƒe dzidzedzekpɔkpɔ mele woawo ŋutɔ ƒe asi me o, eya ta menɔ adzɔge na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aɖaŋudede.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
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 it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 Zi nenie wole abe gbe ƒuƒu si ya lɔ ɖe nu alo atsa si ahom lɔ ɖe nu ene?
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth 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!
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 Eya ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkuwo nekpɔ eƒe gbegblẽ, eye wòano Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe dɔmedzoekplu
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 elabena ɖe wòtsɔ ɖe le eme na ƒometɔ siwo wògblẽ ɖe megbe esi ɣleti siwo woɖo ɖi nɛ la wu nua?
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 “Ɖe ame aɖe ate ŋu afia gɔmesese Mawu, esi wònye eyae drɔ̃a ʋɔnu ame kɔkɔtɔ gɔ̃ hã?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 Ame aɖe ku esi eƒe agbe ɖo vivime, wòle dedinɔnɔ me eye wòɖe dzi ɖi bɔkɔɔ,
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 eƒe ŋutilã kpɔ nunyiame nyuitɔ eye ƒutomemi yɔ eƒe ƒuwo me fũu.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 Ame bubu ku le eƒe luʋɔ ƒe nuxaxa me eye mese vivi na nu vivi aɖeke kpɔ o.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 Ke wo ame evea mlɔ kasanu le ke me, eye ŋɔviwo ɖi ba ɖe wo kple evea dzi.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms 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 devices by which ye wrong 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 oppressor, And where 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 never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 woɖea ame vɔ̃ɖi le dzɔgbevɔ̃egbe, eye woɖenɛ le dzikugbe oa?
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in 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?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Wokɔnɛ yia yɔdo gbɔe eye wodzɔa eƒe yɔdokpe ŋu.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
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 to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 “Eya ta aleke miate ŋu awɔ atsɔ miaƒe bometsinyawo afa akɔ nam mahã? Naneke mele miaƒe nyaŋuɖoɖowo me wu alakpa o!”
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
