Hiob 14
1 “Nnipa a ɔbea awo wɔn nna yɛ tiaa bi na ɔhaw ahyɛ mu mma.
Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Ɔfefɛw te sɛ nhwiren na etwintwam; ɔte sɛ sunsuma a ɛretwa mu akɔ, ɔntena hɔ nkyɛ.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Woma wʼani kɔ saa onipa yi so? Wode no bɛba wʼanim abebu no atɛn ana?
Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Hena na obetumi ayi nea ɛyɛ kronkron afi fi mu? Obiara nni hɔ.
Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
5 Woahyehyɛ onipa nkwa nna; woahyɛ nʼasram dodow ato hɔ na woahyɛ no bere a ɔrentumi ntra.
If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
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, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
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 be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
8 Ne ntin betumi anyin akyɛ asase mu na ne dunsin nso awu wɔ dɔte mu,
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
9 nanso, onya nsu a ɛfefɛw, na eyiyi mman sɛ dua a wɔatɛw.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
10 Nanso sɛ nnipa wu a wɔde no hyɛ fam; ɔhome nea etwa to a, na afei onni hɔ bio.
But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
11 Sɛnea nsu tu yera wɔ po mu no, anaa sɛnea suka mu yowee no,
The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
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 man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their 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)
Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, — (Sheol h7585)
14 Sɛ onipa wu a ɔbɛba nkwa mu bio ana? Mʼaperedi nna mu nyinaa mɛtwɛn akosi sɛ me foforoyɛ bɛba.
(If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
15 Wobɛfrɛ na megye wo so; wʼani begyina abɔde a wo nsa ayɛ.
Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
16 Afei wobɛkan mʼanammɔntu na worenni me bɔne akyi.
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 Wɔbɛsɔ me bɔne ano wɔ kotoku mu, na woakata mʼamumɔyɛ so.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18 “Nanso sɛnea mmepɔw so hohoro na ɛpompono na ɔbotan nso twe fi ne sibea no,
And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19 sɛnea nsu yiyi abo ho na osuhweam twe dɔte kɔ no saa ara na wosɛe onipa anidaso.
The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Wutintim ne so prɛko pɛ, na otwa mu kɔ; wosakra ne nipasu na wugya no kwan.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
21 Sɛ wɔhyɛ ne mmabarima anuonyam a, onnim; na sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ase a, onhu.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
22 Ɔno ara were mu yaw na ɔtee na ɔno ara ne ho na ogyam.”
But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
