Hiob 16

1 Afei Hiob buae se,

But Job answered and said,

2 “Mate nsɛm bebree a ɛte sɛ eyinom; na mo nyinaa moyɛ ogyamserewfo!

I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.

3 So mo kasa tenten no remma awiei ana? Dɛn na ɛhaw mo nti a mugu so regye akyinnye yi?

What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?

4 Anka me nso metumi akasa sɛ mo, sɛ mo na mowɔ me tebea yi mu a, anka metumi akeka nsɛm a ɛyɛ dɛ atia mo na mabu mo animtiaa.

I also will speak as you [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

5 Nanso anka mɛhyɛ mo den; anka awerɛkyekye nsɛm a ebefi mʼanom no bɛma mo ahotɔ.

And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

6 “Nanso sɛ mekasa a ɔyaw a mete no remmrɛ ase; na sɛ mankasa nso a, ɛrennyae.

For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?

7 Onyankopɔn, ampa ara woama mabrɛ woasɛe me fi pasaa.

But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.

8 Woakyekyere me, ama abɛyɛ adansedi; me so tew ara na ɛtew na edi adanse tia me.

My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

9 Onyankopɔn tow hyɛ me so tetew me wɔ nʼabufuw mu na ɔtwɛre ne se gu me so; nea ɔne me anya no pɔkyere nʼani hwɛ me.

In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.

10 Nnipa bue wɔn ano di me ho fɛw; wɔbɔ me sotɔre de bu me animtiaa na wɔka wɔn ho bɔ mu de tia me.

He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.

11 Onyankopɔn de me ama abɔnefo watow me ato amumɔyɛfo nsam.

For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

12 Na biribiara kɔ yiye ma me, nanso ɔdwerɛw me; osoo me kɔn mu, tow me hwee hɔ. Ɔde me asi nʼani so;

When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.

13 nʼagyantowfo atwa me ho ahyia, ohwirew mʼasaabo mu a wanhu me mmɔbɔ maa me bɔnwoma petee fam.

They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.

14 Ɔba me so bere biara; na ɔtow hyɛ me so sɛ ɔkofo.

They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.

15 “Mapam atweaatam akata me were so na masie mʼanintɔn wɔ mfutuma mu.

They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

16 Agyaadwotwa ama mʼani ayɛ kɔɔ; sunsuma kabii atwa mʼani ho ahyia,

My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

17 nanso me nsa nyɛɛ basabasayɛ biara na me mpaebɔ yɛ kann.

Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 “Asase, nkata me mogya so; na mma me sufrɛ to ntwa da!

Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

19 Mprempren mpo, me danseni wɔ ɔsoro; me kamafo wɔ soro hɔ.

And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

20 Me dimafo yɛ mʼadamfo bere a mʼaniwa tew nisu gu Onyankopɔn so yi;

Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

21 ogyina onipa anan mu di ma no wɔ Onyankopɔn anim sɛnea obi di ma nʼadamfo no.

Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!

22 “Mfe kakraa bi akyi ansa na metu kwan akɔ koransan.

But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.