Hiob 13

1 “Mʼani ahu eyinom nyinaa, mʼaso ate, na ate ase.

“Hey, I [SYN] have seen everything [that you have seen], and I have heard and understood all [that you have said].

2 Nea wunim no, me nso minim; wonyɛ abomfiaa mma me.

What you know, I also know; I do (not know less than/know as much as) you.

3 Nanso mepɛ sɛ mekasa kyerɛ Otumfo no na mekyerɛkyerɛ mʼasɛm mu kyerɛ Onyankopɔn.

But I would like to speak to Almighty God, [not to you]; I would like to argue with him [and prove that I (am innocent/have not done things that are wrong]).

4 Mode atoro mmom na asra me ho; mo nyinaa moyɛ ayaresafo a munsi hwee!

As for you, you do not allow people to know the truth about me, like someone covers [up a bad surface of a wall] with whitewash [MET]. You are all like doctors [MET] [that give people] useless [medicines].

5 Sɛ mobɛyɛ komm koraa a ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ nyansa ama mo!

I wish/desire that you would be silent; that would be the wisest thing that you [could do].

6 Afei muntie mʼano asɛm; muntie mʼanoyi.

Listen to what I will say to you now; listen while I am saying [what is true about myself].

7 Mobɛka amumɔyɛsɛm ama Onyankopɔn ana? Mobɛka nnaadaasɛm ama no ana?

Are you telling lies about me to prove God [is just in causing me to suffer]? Are you saying what is deceitful in order to benefit him?

8 Mobɛkyea mo aso ama no? Mobɛka Onyankopɔn asɛm ama no ana?

Are you trying to defend him? Are you trying to prove [as you would] in a court that he is innocent?

9 Sɛ ɔhwehwɛ mo mu a, ebesi mo yiye ana? Mubetumi adaadaa no sɛnea modaadaa nnipa no ana?

If he looks closely, will he find that everything that you have done is good? Or can you deceive him, like you deceive other people?

10 Sɛ mokyeaa mo aso wɔ kokoa mu a, sɛnea ɛte biara, ɔbɛka mo anim

If you secretly say/do things to cause God to act favorably toward you, he will surely rebuke you.

11 Nʼanuonyam mmɔ mo hu ana? Ne ho suro ntɔ mo so ana?

He will certainly [RHQ] cause you to be terrified by his power/greatness; you will become extremely afraid.

12 Mo kasatɔmmɛ yɛ mmɛbu a ɛte sɛ nsõ; mo anoyi yɛ dɔte twann anoyi.

The things that you say [that you think are] wise are [as useless as] [MET] as ashes; what you say to defend your opinions is no better than [MET] clay [that quickly crumbles].

13 “Monyɛ komm mma menkasa; na nea ɛbɛyɛ me biara mmra me so.

“So, be quiet and allow me to speak, and then it will not matter what happens to me.

14 Adɛn nti na mede me ho to amane mu na mede me nkwa to me nsam?

I am ready to endure anything; I am [even] willing to risk being executed [IDM, DOU] [for what I will say].

15 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ okum me de, nanso ne so na mʼani bɛda; ampa ara medi mʼakwan ho adanse wɔ nʼanim.

If God kills me, then I will not have anyone else whom I can confidently expect to help me, but I am going to defend my behavior in his presence [anyway].

16 Nokware, eyi na ɛbɛyɛ me nkwagye, efisɛ nea onsuro Onyankopɔn no rentumi nkɔ nʼanim!

No wicked/godless person would dare to stand in the presence of God, [but because I say that I have not done things that are wrong], perhaps, if I can prove that to God, he will save me.”

17 Muntie me nsɛm yi yiye; monyɛ aso mma nea meka.

“God, listen very carefully to what I say [DOU].

18 Afei a masiesie me nkurobɔ yi, minim sɛ medi bem.

I am ready to prove that I am innocent, and I know that you also will declare that I am not guilty.

19 Obi betumi abɔ me kwaadu ana? Sɛ ɛte saa de a, anka mɛyɛ komm na mawu.

I certainly do not think [RHQ] that [you or anyone else] will say that what I say is not true; if anyone did that, I would (be silent/stop talking) and die.

20 “Onyankopɔn, yɛ saa nneɛma abien yi pɛ ma me, na afei meremfa me ho nhintaw wo:

“I am requesting you to do two things for me; if you do them, I will (not hide from you/come and stand in front of you) [LIT].

21 Yi wo nsa fi me so kɔ akyirikyiri, na gyae wo ho hu a wode hunahuna me no.

[The first thing that I request is that you] stop punishing [IDM] me; and [the second thing that I request is that you] stop causing me to be very terrified.

22 Ɛno de, samena me na mɛba, anaa ma menkasa na bua me.

You speak [first], and then I will reply; or allow me to speak first, and [then] you reply.

23 Mfomso ne bɔne dodow ahe na mayɛ? Kyerɛ me me mfomso ne me bɔne.

What have I done that is wrong? What sins have I committed? Show me how I have disobeyed you.

24 Adɛn nti na wode wʼanim asie me na wudwen sɛ meyɛ wo tamfo?

Why (do you refuse to be friendly with/have you abandoned) me [IDM]? Why do you (act toward me as though I am/consider me to be) your enemy?

25 Wobɛyɛ ahaban a mframa rebɔ no ayayade ana? Wobɛtaa ntɛtɛ a awo ana?

I am [as insignificant as] [MET] a leaf that is blown by the wind; why are you trying to cause me to be afraid [RHQ]? Why are you pursuing me? Am I [useless, nothing more than a bit of] dry chaff [RHQ]?

26 Wokyerɛw sobo a ɛyɛ yaw tia me, na woka me mmabunmmere mu bɔne nyinaa gu me so.

[It seems that] you are writing things to accuse me [of doing things that are wrong], even recalling bad things that I did when I was young.

27 Wode nkyehama gu mʼanan; wohwɛ mʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa so yiye na wode agyiraehyɛde ayeyɛ mʼanammɔn mu.

[It is as though] you have fastened my feet with chains [to prevent me from walking], and you watch me wherever I walk; [It is as though] you even look closely at my footprints [to see where I have gone].

28 “Enti onipa nkwa sa te sɛ ade a aporɔw, te sɛ atade a nwewee adi.

[As a result], my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by [larvae of] moths.”