Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buae se,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Muntie me nsɛm no yiye. Momma eyi nyɛ awerɛkyekye a mode ma me.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Munnya ntoboase mma me bere a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔ so nni fɛw.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 “Minwiinwii hyɛ onipa ana? Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ minya ntoboase?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiriw mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Sɛ midwen eyi ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Adɛn nti na amumɔyɛfo tena nkwa mu? Wonyin kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Wohu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔso, wohu wɔn nenanom.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afi mu, na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nnyɛ asaadwe; na wɔn anantwibere nwo a wɔmpɔn.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nguankuw; na emu mmotafowa no huruhuruw.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasae ne sanku so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyigyei gye wɔn ani.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Fi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yehu wʼakwan.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Hena ne otumfo no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpae a mfaso bɛn na yebenya?’
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Nanso wɔn nkɔso no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho fi amumɔyɛfo afotu ho.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
17 “Nanso mpɛn ahe na wodum amumɔyɛfo kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, nea Onyankopɔn fi nʼabufuw mu de ba no?
How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ sare wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframaden bi apra wɔn?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Wɔka se, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe onipa no ankasa aso ma ohu.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Ma ɔno ankasa ani nhu ne sɛe; ma Otumfo abufuwhyew no nka nʼani.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Dɛn na ɛfa wɔn ho fa wɔn abusuafo a woagyaw wɔn akyi no ho bere a asram a wɔatwa ama no aba awiei no?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 “Obi betumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ bere a obu atitiriw mpo atɛn?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Obi wu wɔ bere a ɔwɔ ahoɔden ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 na ne nipadua ayɛ frɔmfrɔm, na hon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Ɔfoforo nso de ɔkra mu yawdi wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Wosie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfutuma koro mu, ma asunson nnunu wɔn nyinaa.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 “Mahu mo adwene, ɔkwan a mobɛfa so afom me.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Moka se, ‘Onipa kɛse no fi wɔ he, ntamadan a omumɔyɛfo no tenaa mu no?’
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 So mummmisaa wɔn a wotu kwan no asɛm da? Wɔn amanneɛbɔ mu nsɛm ho nhiaa mo
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 sɛ onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wogye wɔn abufuwhyew da no ana?
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Hena na ɔde ne suban si nʼanim? Hena na otua no nea wayɛ so ka?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ ɔda mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Obon mu dɔte yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na dɔm a wontumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu bɛkyekye me werɛ? Mo mmuae nyɛ hwee sɛ atoro!”
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
