Hiob 38
1 Afei, Awurade fi ahum mu buaa Hiob se,
Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 “Hena ne nea ɔde nsɛm a nimdeɛ nni mu kata me nhyehyɛe so?
Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Hyɛ wo ho den sɛ ɔbarima; mebisa wo nsɛm, na wubebua me.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
4 “Bere a metoo asase fapem no, na wowɔ he? Sɛ wote ase, ka ɛ.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
5 Hena na osusuw ne tenten ne ne trɛw? Ampa ara wunim! Hena na ɔtwee susuhama faa ani?
Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
6 Dɛn so na egyina, anaa hena na ɔtoo ne tweatibo no,
Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
7 bere a anɔpa nsoromma bɔɔ mu too dwom, na abɔfo nyinaa de anigye teɛɛ mu no?
When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
8 “Hena na ɔkaa po hyɛɛ apon akyi, bere a epue fii ɔyafunu mu,
And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
9 bere a mede omununkum yɛɛ nʼadurade na mede sum kabii kyekyeree no,
When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
10 bere a metoo ɔhye maa no na misisii nʼapon ne nʼadaban,
And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
11 bere a mekae se, ‘Ɛha ara na wubedu na worentra ha; ɛha na wʼahantan asorɔkye no bɛso no?’
And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
12 “So woahyɛ mmara ama adekyee da? Na woakyerɛ ahemadakye nso afa,
Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place:
13 sɛ ɛnkɔka asase ano na ontu amumɔyɛfo mfi so?
That it might lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
14 Asase fa ne bɔbea sɛ dɔte a ɛhyɛ nsɔwano ase; na ɛsow tebea da wɔn ho adi te sɛ atade.
She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
15 Wɔde amumɔyɛfo hann akame wɔn, na wɔn abasa a wɔama so no mu abu.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
16 “So woapɛɛpɛɛ mu ahu nea po aniwa wɔ anaa woanantew ne bun mu pɛn?
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 So wɔde owu apon akyerɛ wo? Woahu owu sunsuma apon ana?
Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Woate wiase a ɛda hɔ tamaa no ase ana? Sɛ wunim eyinom nyinaa a, ka kyerɛ me.
Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
19 “Ɔkwan bɛn na ɛkɔ hann atenae? Na ɛhe na sum te?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
20 Wubetumi de wɔn akɔ wɔn sibea? Wunim akwan a ɛkɔ wɔn atenae?
That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
21 Ampa ara wunim, efisɛ na wɔawo wo dedaw. Woanyin yiye!
Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 “Woakɔ sukyerɛmma adekoradan mu da anaa woahu mparuwbo adekoradan
Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
23 a makora so ama ahohia bere, ɔsa ne akodi nna?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
24 Ɔkwan bɛn na ɛkɔ faako a anyinam fi ba, anaa faako a apuei mframa fi na ɛbɔ fa asase so?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
25 Hena na otwaa ɛka maa osuhweam, ne ɔkwan maa aprannaa mmubomu,
Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
26 sɛ ɛbɛtɔ agu asase a obiara nte so so, nweatam a obiara nni so,
To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
27 na ama asase kesee a ɛda mpan afɔw na sare afifi wɔ so?
To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
28 Osu wɔ agya ana? Hena na ɔyɛ agya ma obosu a ɛsosɔ?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Hena yafunu mu na sukyerɛmma fi? Hena na ɔwoo sukyerɛmma mporoporowa fi soro
Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
30 bere a nsu kyen dan sɛ ɔbo, na bun ani kyen?
[When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
31 “Wubetumi de hama akyekyere Akokɔbeatan ne ne mma? Wubetumi asan Nyankrɛnte hama ana?
Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
32 Wubetumi de anɔpa nsoromma aba wɔ ne bere mu anaasɛ wubetumi ayi sisi ne ne mma afi hɔ?
Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
33 So wunim mmara a ɛfa ɔsoro ho? Wubetumi de Onyankopɔn ahenni aba asase so ana?
Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
34 “Wubetumi ama wo nne adu omununkum so na wode nsu akata wo ho ana?
Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Wutumi ma anyinam twa? Wɔka kyerɛ wo se, ‘Yenni’ ana?
Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
36 Hena na ɔde nyansa ma koma anaasɛ ɔde ntease hyɛ adwene mu?
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 Hena na ɔwɔ nyansa a wɔde kan omununkum? Hena na obetumi akyea ɔsoro nsu nkotoku,
Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
38 bere a mfutuma ayɛ den ama dɔte atɔwatɔw keka bɔ mu.
When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
39 “Wokɔ ahayɛ ma gyatabere ma gyata didi mee
Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
40 bere a wobutubutuw wɔn abon ano anaasɛ wɔtetɛw adɔtɔ ase?
When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?
41 Hena na ɔma kwaakwaadabi aduan bere a ne mma su frɛ Onyankopɔn na wonni aduan nti wokyinkyin?
Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
