Hiob 14
1 “Nnipa a ɔbea awo wɔn nna yɛ tiaa bi na ɔhaw ahyɛ mu mma.
For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.
2 Ɔfefɛw te sɛ nhwiren na etwintwam; ɔte sɛ sunsuma a ɛretwa mu akɔ, ɔntena hɔ nkyɛ.
Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.
3 Woma wʼani kɔ saa onipa yi so? Wode no bɛba wʼanim abebu no atɛn ana?
Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you?
4 Hena na obetumi ayi nea ɛyɛ kronkron afi fi mu? Obiara nni hɔ.
For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;
5 Woahyehyɛ onipa nkwa nna; woahyɛ nʼasram dodow ato hɔ na woahyɛ no bere a ɔrentumi ntra.
if even his life should be [but] one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: you have appointed [him] for a time, and he shall by no means exceed [it].
6 Enti yi wʼani fi ne so na ɔnyɛ nea ɔpɛ, kosi sɛ obewie nʼadwuma sɛ ɔpaani.
Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.
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, even if it should be cut down, [that] it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.
8 Ne ntin betumi anyin akyɛ asase mu na ne dunsin nso awu wɔ dɔte mu,
For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;
9 nanso, onya nsu a ɛfefɛw, na eyiyi mman sɛ dua a wɔatɛw.
it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.
10 Nanso sɛ nnipa wu a wɔde no hyɛ fam; ɔhome nea etwa to a, na afei onni hɔ bio.
But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.
11 Sɛnea nsu tu yera wɔ po mu no, anaa sɛnea suka mu yowee no,
For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried 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.
And man that has lain down [in death] shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from 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)
For oh that you had kept me in the grave, and had hidden me until your wrath should cease, and you should set me a time in which you would remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Sɛ onipa wu a ɔbɛba nkwa mu bio ana? Mʼaperedi nna mu nyinaa mɛtwɛn akosi sɛ me foforoyɛ bɛba.
For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?
15 Wobɛfrɛ na megye wo so; wʼani begyina abɔde a wo nsa ayɛ.
Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.
16 Afei wobɛkan mʼanammɔntu na worenni me bɔne akyi.
But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?
17 Wɔbɛsɔ me bɔne ano wɔ kotoku mu, na woakata mʼamumɔyɛ so.
An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.
18 “Nanso sɛnea mmepɔw so hohoro na ɛpompono na ɔbotan nso twe fi ne sibea no,
And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn 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, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.
20 Wutintim ne so prɛko pɛ, na otwa mu kɔ; wosakra ne nipasu na wugya no kwan.
You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send him away;
21 Sɛ wɔhyɛ ne mmabarima anuonyam a, onnim; na sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ase a, onhu.
and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.
22 Ɔno ara were mu yaw na ɔtee na ɔno ara ne ho na ogyam.”
But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.
