Hiob 33
1 “Na afei, Hiob, tie me nsɛm; yɛ aso ma biribiara a mɛka.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2 Merebebue mʼano; me nsɛm aba me tɛkrɛma so.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
3 Me nsɛm fi koma a ɛteɛ mu; na mʼano de ahonim pa ka nea minim.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4 Onyankopɔn Honhom na abɔ me; Otumfo no home ma me nkwa.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 Sɛ wubetumi a, ma me mmuae; siesie wo ho, na ka si mʼanim.
If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6 Wo ne me nyinaa yɛ pɛ wɔ Onyankopɔn anim; me nso wɔbɔɔ me fii dɔte mu.
Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 Ɛnsɛ sɛ wusuro me, na ɛnsɛ sɛ me nsa yɛ den wɔ wo so.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 “Nanso woaka ama mate, mete saa nsɛm no, na wokae se,
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 ‘Meyɛ kronkron na minni bɔne; me ho tew na afɔdi biara nni me ho.
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10 Nanso Onyankopɔn anya me ho mfomso wafa me sɛ ne tamfo.
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 Ɔde me nan hyɛ mpokyerɛ mu; na nʼani wɔ mʼakwan nyinaa so.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 “Nanso meka mekyerɛ wo se, eyi mu de woayɛ mfomso, efisɛ Onyankopɔn so sen ɔdesani.
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 Na adɛn nti na wunwiinwii hyɛ no sɛ ommua onipa nsɛm biara ana?
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 Nanso Onyankopɔn kasa wɔ akwan ahorow so, na ebia nnipa nte.
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15 Ɔkasa wɔ daeso ne anadwo anisoadehu mu, bere a nna afa nnipa na wɔada hatee wɔ wɔn mpa so no,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
16 otumi kasa gu wɔn asom na ɔde kɔkɔbɔ yi wɔn hu,
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 sɛ ɔbɛdan onipa afi nneyɛe bɔne ho na watwe no afi ahantan ho,
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 sɛ ɔmma ne kra nkɔ amoa mu na ɔnhwere ne nkwa wɔ afoa ano.
He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 Anaasɛ wotumi de mpa so yaw twe onipa aso nnompe mu yaw a ennyae da,
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 kosi sɛ ne kɔn nnɔ aduan na ne kra nso po aduan a ɛyɛ akɔnnɔ pa ara;
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21 ɔfɔn yɛ basaa, na ne nnompe a anka ɛho akata no, ho da hɔ.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Ne kra bɛn ɔda, na ne nkwa bɛn owu abɔfo.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23 “Nanso sɛ ɔbɔfo bi wɔ nʼafa sɛ odimafo a, ɛyɛ apem mu baako, na ɔbɛkyerɛ no nea eye ma no,
If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24 obehu no mmɔbɔ na waka se, ‘Munnyaa no na wankɔ ɔda mu; na manya mpatade ama no,’
Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 afei ne were yɛ foforo sɛ abofra; na esi ne dedaw mu yɛ sɛ mmerantebere mu de.
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26 Ɔbɔ Onyankopɔn mpae na onya adom fi ne hɔ, ohu Onyankopɔn anim na ɔde ahosɛpɛw teɛ mu; na Onyankopɔn gye no bio sɛ ɔtreneeni.
He will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal his righteousness.
27 Afei ɔba nnipa mu bɛka se, ‘Meyɛɛ bɔne na mekyeaa nea ɛteɛ, nanso mannya nea ɛfata me.
He then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
28 Ogyee me kra na wamma no ankɔ ɔda mu, enti mɛtena ase na madi hann no mu dɛ.’
Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29 “Onyankopɔn yɛ eyinom nyinaa ma onipa, mprenu ne ne mprɛnsa so,
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30 sɛnea ne kra renkɔ ɔda mu, na nkwa hann no ahyerɛn ne so.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31 “Yɛ aso, Hiob, na tie me; yɛ dinn na menkasa.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32 Na sɛ wowɔ biribi ka a, bua me; kasa, na mepɛ sɛ wobu wo bem.
If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33 Sɛ ɛnte saa nso a, ɛno de tie me. Yɛ dinn na mɛkyerɛ wo nyansa.”
If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
