Hiob 15
1 Na Temanni Elifas buae se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Enti onyansafo de nsɛm a aba biara nni mu beyi nʼano anaasɛ ɔde apuei mframa a emu yɛ hyew bɛhyɛ nʼafuru ma?
“Would a wise man answer with such empty ‘knowledge’ that is just a lot of hot air?
3 Ɔde nsɛm huhuw begye akyinnye, aka nsɛm a mfaso biara nni so ana?
He wouldn't argue with unprofitable speeches using words that do no good.
4 Wototo onyamesuro ase mmom na wusiw Onyankopɔn som ho kwan.
But you are doing away with the fear of God, and destroying communion with him.
5 Wo bɔne kyerɛ wʼano nea ɔnka; na woafa anitew tɛkrɛma.
It's your sins that are doing the talking, and you are choosing deceptive words.
6 Wʼankasa wʼano bu wo kumfɔ, ɛnyɛ me de; wʼankasa wʼano di adanse tia wo.
Your own mouth is condemning you, not me; your own lips are testifying against you.
7 “Wone onipa a wɔwoo wo dii kan ana? Wɔwoo wo ansa na wɔrewo nkoko ana?
Were you the very first person to be born? Were you born before the hills were created?
8 Wutie Onyankopɔn afotu ana? Wo nko ara na wunim nyansa ana?
Were you there listening in God's council? Does wisdom only belong to you?
9 Dɛn na wunim a, yennim? Nhumu bɛn na wowɔ a yenni?
What do you know that we don't? What do you understand that we don't?
10 Nea wafuw dwen ne akwakoraa wɔ yɛn afa wɔn a wɔanyinyin sen wʼagya mpo.
We have among us old, gray-haired people much older than your father!
11 Onyankopɔn awerɛkyekye ne nsɛm a wɔka no brɛoo kyerɛ wo no sua ma wo ana?
Are the comforts God provides too little for you? Are God's gentle words not enough for you?
12 Adɛn nti na wo koma atwe wo akɔ adɛn nti na wʼani asɔ gya,
Why do you let yourself be carried away by your emotions?
13 na woadan wʼabufuw agu Onyankopɔn so na woma saa nsɛm yi pue fi wʼano?
Why do your eyes flash in anger that you turn against God and let yourself speak this way?
14 “Ɔdesani ne hena a obetumi ayɛ pɛ, anaasɛ nea ɔbea awo no bɛn na obetumi ayɛ ɔtreneeni?
Who can say they are clean? Which human being can say that they do what is right?
15 Onyankopɔn nni ahotoso wɔ nʼakronkronfo mu ɔsorosoro mpo nyɛ kronkron wɔ nʼani so,
Look, God doesn't even trust his angels—even the heavenly beings are not pure in his sight!
16 na me ne onipa debɔneyɛfo ne omumɔyɛfo a ɔnom bɔne sɛ nsu.
How much less pure are those who are unclean and corrupt, drinking in sin like water!
17 “Tie me, na mɛkyerɛ wo mu; ma menka nea mahu nkyerɛ wo,
If you are ready to listen to me, I will show you. I will explain my insights.
18 nea anyansafo apae mu aka, a wɔamfa biribiara a wonya fii wɔn agyanom hɔ no ansie
This is what wise men have said, confirmed by their ancestors,
19 (wɔn nko ara na wɔde asase no maa wɔn bere a ananafo biara nni wɔn mu):
those who to whom alone the land was given before foreigners ever were there.
20 Omumɔyɛfo kɔ ahohia mu, ne nkwanna nyinaa, na basabasayɛni nso, ne mfe a wɔahyehyɛ ama no nyinaa.
The wicked writhe in pain all their lives, through all the years these oppressors survive.
21 Nnyigyei a ɛyɛ hu hyɛ nʼasom ma; na sɛ ɛyɛ sɛ nneɛma rekɔ yiye ma no a, akorɔmfo tow hyɛ ne so.
Terrifying sounds fill their ears; even when they think they're safe, the destroyer will attack them.
22 Ɔpa abaw sɛ obeguan afi sum mu; wɔabɔ no ato hɔ ama afoa.
They don't believe they will escape the darkness—they know a sword is waiting for them.
23 Okyinkyin hwehwɛ aduan; onim sɛ sum da no abɛn.
They wander around looking for food, asking ‘Where is it?’ They know that their day of darkness is close at hand.
24 Ɔhaw ne ahoyeraw yi no hu; ɛhyɛ ne so sɛ ɔhene a wasiesie ne ho ama ɔko,
Misery and torment overwhelm them like a king preparing for battle.
25 efisɛ ɔteɛteɛ ne nsa kyerɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔma ne ho so tia Otumfo,
They shake their fists in God's face, defiantly challenging the Almighty,
26 wɔde nkatabo a mu piw na ɛyɛ den kɔ ne so a, onsuro obiara.
insolently attacking him with their shields.
27 “Ɛwɔ mu sɛ srade ama nʼafono atotɔ na nʼasen mu nam abubu agu so de,
They have become fat in their rebellion, their bellies bloated with fat.
28 nanso ɔbɛtena nkurow a agu so na watena afi a obi nte mu, afi a ɛrebubu mu.
But their cities will become desolate; they will live in abandoned houses that are crumbling into ruins.
29 Ɔrenkɔ so nyɛ ɔdefo bio, na nʼahonya rennyina, na nʼagyapade so bɛtew na ayera wɔ asase so.
They will lose their riches, their wealth will not endure, their possessions will not spread over the earth.
30 Ɔrenguan sum no; ogyaframa bɛhyew ne mman, na Onyankopɔn anom ahomegu bɛsoa no akɔ.
They will not escape from the darkness. Like a tree whose shoots are burned up in a forest fire, the breath of God will blow him away.
31 Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔde ne ho to nneɛma huhuw so de daadaa ne ho, efisɛ ɔrennya hwee mfi mu.
They should not trust in things that are worthless, for their reward will be worthless.
32 Ansa na ne da bedu no, wobetua no ka a bi nka, na ne mman renyɛ frɔmfrɔm.
This will be paid in full before their time has come. They are like tree branches that wither,
33 Ɔbɛyɛ sɛ bobedua a wɔaporow so aba a ennyin ɛ, te sɛ ngodua a ne nhwiren reporow gu fam.
like vines that lose their unripe grapes, or olive trees that lose their flowers.
34 Na abɔnefo fekuw a wonnim Onyankopɔn no rensow aba, na ogya bɛhyew wɔn a wɔdɔ kɛtɛasehyɛ no ntamadan.
For those who reject God are barren, and fire will burn up the homes of those who love bribes.
35 Wonyinsɛn ɔhaw na wɔwo bɔne; wɔn awotwaa siesie nnaadaa.”
They plan trouble and produce evil, giving birth to deception.”
