Hiob 14
1 “Nnipa a ɔbea awo wɔn nna yɛ tiaa bi na ɔhaw ahyɛ mu mma.
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 Ɔfefɛw te sɛ nhwiren na etwintwam; ɔte sɛ sunsuma a ɛretwa mu akɔ, ɔntena hɔ nkyɛ.
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 Woma wʼani kɔ saa onipa yi so? Wode no bɛba wʼanim abebu no atɛn ana?
Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 Hena na obetumi ayi nea ɛyɛ kronkron afi fi mu? Obiara nni hɔ.
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 Woahyehyɛ onipa nkwa nna; woahyɛ nʼasram dodow ato hɔ na woahyɛ no bere a ɔrentumi ntra.
Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
6 Enti yi wʼani fi ne so na ɔnyɛ nea ɔpɛ, kosi sɛ obewie nʼadwuma sɛ ɔpaani.
look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 “Dua mpo anidaso wɔ hɔ ma no: Sɛ wotwa a, ɛbɛfefɛw bio, na ne mman foforo no rempenpan.
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
8 Ne ntin betumi anyin akyɛ asase mu na ne dunsin nso awu wɔ dɔte mu,
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 nanso, onya nsu a ɛfefɛw, na eyiyi mman sɛ dua a wɔatɛw.
at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 Nanso sɛ nnipa wu a wɔde no hyɛ fam; ɔhome nea etwa to a, na afei onni hɔ bio.
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 Sɛnea nsu tu yera wɔ po mu no, anaa sɛnea suka mu yowee no,
As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 saa ara na onipa tɔ fam na ɔnsɔre bio; enkosi sɛ ɔsoro betwa mu no, nnipa rensɔre na wɔrennyan wɔn mfi wɔn nna mu.
so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
13 “Sɛ anka wode me besie ɔda mu de me ahintaw kosi sɛ wʼabufuw betwa mu! Sɛ anka wobɛhyɛ me bere na afei woakae me! (Sheol h7585)
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Sɛ onipa wu a ɔbɛba nkwa mu bio ana? Mʼaperedi nna mu nyinaa mɛtwɛn akosi sɛ me foforoyɛ bɛba.
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
15 Wobɛfrɛ na megye wo so; wʼani begyina abɔde a wo nsa ayɛ.
You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 Afei wobɛkan mʼanammɔntu na worenni me bɔne akyi.
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 Wɔbɛsɔ me bɔne ano wɔ kotoku mu, na woakata mʼamumɔyɛ so.
My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 “Nanso sɛnea mmepɔw so hohoro na ɛpompono na ɔbotan nso twe fi ne sibea no,
But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 sɛnea nsu yiyi abo ho na osuhweam twe dɔte kɔ no saa ara na wosɛe onipa anidaso.
as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 Wutintim ne so prɛko pɛ, na otwa mu kɔ; wosakra ne nipasu na wugya no kwan.
You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 Sɛ wɔhyɛ ne mmabarima anuonyam a, onnim; na sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ase a, onhu.
If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 Ɔno ara were mu yaw na ɔtee na ɔno ara ne ho na ogyam.”
He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
