Hiob 23
1 Na Hiob buae se,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Nnɛ mpo, mʼanwiinwii mu da so yɛ den; ne nsa ayɛ den, mʼapinisi nyinaa akyi.
Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
3 Sɛ minim baabi a mehu no; anaasɛ metumi akɔ ne tenabea a
Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!
4 anka mɛka mʼasɛm wɔ nʼanim na magye akyinnye bebree.
I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.
5 Anka mɛte mmuae a ɔde bɛma me, na madwen nea ɔbɛka ho.
I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
6 Ɔbɛsɔre atia me dennen ana? Dabi, ɔremmɔ me kwaadu.
Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
7 Ɛhɔ de, nnipa trenee betumi aka nʼasɛm wɔ nʼanim, na wobegye me afi me temmufo nsam afebɔɔ.
There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
8 “Nanso sɛ mekɔ apuei fam a onni hɔ; sɛ mekɔ atɔe fam nso a minhu no.
But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive 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 doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.
10 Nanso onim ɔkwan a menam so; na sɛ ɔsɔ me hwɛ a mepue sɛ sikakɔkɔɔ.
But he knoweth the way that I take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.
11 Madi nʼanammɔn akyi pɛɛ; na manantew nʼakwan so a mamman.
On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
12 Mentwee me ho mfii mmara nsɛm a efi nʼanom no ho, mama asɛm a efi nʼanom ho ahia me asen me daa aduan.
From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.
13 “Nanso obiara nni hɔ ka ne ho, na hena na obetumi atia no? Ɔyɛ biribiara a ɔpɛ.
But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
14 Ɔde ne mmaransɛm di dwuma tia me; ɔda so kora nhyehyɛe a ɛte sɛɛ bebree.
For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
15 Ɛno nti na mebɔ hu wɔ nʼanim; na sɛ midwen eyinom nyinaa ho a, misuro no.
Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
16 Onyankopɔn ama me koma abotow; Otumfo ama mabɔ huboa.
Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
17 Nanso sum no mma menka mʼano nto mu, sum kabii a ɛkata mʼanim no.
Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.
