Hiob 23

1 Na Hiob buae se,

Then Job answered:

2 “Nnɛ mpo, mʼanwiinwii mu da so yɛ den; ne nsa ayɛ den, mʼapinisi nyinaa akyi.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 Sɛ minim baabi a mehu no; anaasɛ metumi akɔ ne tenabea a

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 anka mɛka mʼasɛm wɔ nʼanim na magye akyinnye bebree.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Anka mɛte mmuae a ɔde bɛma me, na madwen nea ɔbɛka ho.

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 Ɔbɛsɔre atia me dennen ana? Dabi, ɔremmɔ me kwaadu.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 Ɛhɔ de, nnipa trenee betumi aka nʼasɛm wɔ nʼanim, na wobegye me afi me temmufo nsam afebɔɔ.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 “Nanso sɛ mekɔ apuei fam a onni hɔ; sɛ mekɔ atɔe fam nso a minhu no.

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 Sɛ ɔreyɛ adwuma wɔ atifi fam a minhu no; sɛ ɔdan ne ho kɔ anafo fam a, mʼani nhye ne ho.

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 Nanso onim ɔkwan a menam so; na sɛ ɔsɔ me hwɛ a mepue sɛ sikakɔkɔɔ.

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 Madi nʼanammɔn akyi pɛɛ; na manantew nʼakwan so a mamman.

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 Mentwee me ho mfii mmara nsɛm a efi nʼanom no ho, mama asɛm a efi nʼanom ho ahia me asen me daa aduan.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 “Nanso obiara nni hɔ ka ne ho, na hena na obetumi atia no? Ɔyɛ biribiara a ɔpɛ.

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 Ɔde ne mmaransɛm di dwuma tia me; ɔda so kora nhyehyɛe a ɛte sɛɛ bebree.

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Ɛno nti na mebɔ hu wɔ nʼanim; na sɛ midwen eyinom nyinaa ho a, misuro no.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 Onyankopɔn ama me koma abotow; Otumfo ama mabɔ huboa.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Nanso sum no mma menka mʼano nto mu, sum kabii a ɛkata mʼanim no.

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.