Hiob 13
1 “Mʼani ahu eyinom nyinaa, mʼaso ate, na ate ase.
See, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.
2 Nea wunim no, me nso minim; wonyɛ abomfiaa mma me.
What you know, the same I also know; I am not inferior to you.
3 Nanso mepɛ sɛ mekasa kyerɛ Otumfo no na mekyerɛkyerɛ mʼasɛm mu kyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
However, I would rather speak with the Almighty; I wish to reason with God.
4 Mode atoro mmom na asra me ho; mo nyinaa moyɛ ayaresafo a munsi hwee!
But you whitewash the truth with lies; you are all physicians of no value.
5 Sɛ mobɛyɛ komm koraa a ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ nyansa ama mo!
Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace! That would be your wisdom.
6 Afei muntie mʼano asɛm; muntie mʼanoyi.
Hear now my own reasoning; listen to the pleading of my own lips.
7 Mobɛka amumɔyɛsɛm ama Onyankopɔn ana? Mobɛka nnaadaasɛm ama no ana?
Will you speak unrighteously for God, and will you talk deceitfully for him?
8 Mobɛkyea mo aso ama no? Mobɛka Onyankopɔn asɛm ama no ana?
Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?
9 Sɛ ɔhwehwɛ mo mu a, ebesi mo yiye ana? Mubetumi adaadaa no sɛnea modaadaa nnipa no ana?
Will it be good for you when he searches you out? Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?
10 Sɛ mokyeaa mo aso wɔ kokoa mu a, sɛnea ɛte biara, ɔbɛka mo anim
He would surely reprove you if in secret you showed partiality.
11 Nʼanuonyam mmɔ mo hu ana? Ne ho suro ntɔ mo so ana?
Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
12 Mo kasatɔmmɛ yɛ mmɛbu a ɛte sɛ nsõ; mo anoyi yɛ dɔte twann anoyi.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes; your defenses are defenses made of clay.
13 “Monyɛ komm mma menkasa; na nea ɛbɛyɛ me biara mmra me so.
Hold your peace, let me alone, so that I may speak, let come what may on me.
14 Adɛn nti na mede me ho to amane mu na mede me nkwa to me nsam?
I will take my own flesh in my teeth; I will take my life in my hands.
15 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ okum me de, nanso ne so na mʼani bɛda; ampa ara medi mʼakwan ho adanse wɔ nʼanim.
See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left; nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.
16 Nokware, eyi na ɛbɛyɛ me nkwagye, efisɛ nea onsuro Onyankopɔn no rentumi nkɔ nʼanim!
This will be the reason for my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.
17 Muntie me nsɛm yi yiye; monyɛ aso mma nea meka.
God, listen carefully to my speech; let my declaration come to your ears.
18 Afei a masiesie me nkurobɔ yi, minim sɛ medi bem.
See now, I have set my defense in order; I know that I am innocent.
19 Obi betumi abɔ me kwaadu ana? Sɛ ɛte saa de a, anka mɛyɛ komm na mawu.
Who is the one who would argue against me in court? If you came to do so, and if I were proved wrong, then I would be silent and give up my life.
20 “Onyankopɔn, yɛ saa nneɛma abien yi pɛ ma me, na afei meremfa me ho nhintaw wo:
God, do only two things for me, and then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 Yi wo nsa fi me so kɔ akyirikyiri, na gyae wo ho hu a wode hunahuna me no.
withdraw your oppressive hand from me, and do not let your terrors make me afraid.
22 Ɛno de, samena me na mɛba, anaa ma menkasa na bua me.
Then call me, and I will answer; or let me speak to you, and you answer me.
23 Mfomso ne bɔne dodow ahe na mayɛ? Kyerɛ me me mfomso ne me bɔne.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Let me know my transgression and my sin.
24 Adɛn nti na wode wʼanim asie me na wudwen sɛ meyɛ wo tamfo?
Why do you hide your face from me and treat me like your enemy?
25 Wobɛyɛ ahaban a mframa rebɔ no ayayade ana? Wobɛtaa ntɛtɛ a awo ana?
Will you persecute a driven leaf? Will you pursue dry stubble?
26 Wokyerɛw sobo a ɛyɛ yaw tia me, na woka me mmabunmmere mu bɔne nyinaa gu me so.
For you write down bitter things against me; you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 Wode nkyehama gu mʼanan; wohwɛ mʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa so yiye na wode agyiraehyɛde ayeyɛ mʼanammɔn mu.
You also put my feet in the stocks; you closely watch all my paths; you examine the ground where the soles of my feet have walked
28 “Enti onipa nkwa sa te sɛ ade a aporɔw, te sɛ atade a nwewee adi.
although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away, like a garment that moths have eaten.
