Hiob 7
1 “Asase so som nyɛ den mma onipa ana? Ne nkwanna nte sɛ ɔpaani de?
“Isn't life for human beings like serving a sentence of hard labor? Don't their days pass like those of a hired laborer?
2 Sɛnea akoa ani gyina anwummere sunsuma, anaasɛ ɔpaani ho pere no nʼakatua ho no,
Like some slave longing for a bit of shade, like a hired hand anxiously waiting for pay day,
3 saa ara na wɔatwa asram hunu ato me hɔ, ne anadwo a ɔhaw wɔ mu ama me.
I've been given months of emptiness and nights of misery.
4 Sɛ meda a, midwen bisa se, ‘Bere bɛn na ade bɛkye?’ Nanso anadwo twa mu nkakrankakra, na mepere kosi ahemadakye.
When I go to bed I ask, ‘When shall I get up?’ But the night goes on and on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 Asunson ne aporɔporɔw afura me nipadua, me were atetew na ɛrefi nsu.
My body is covered with maggots and caked in dirt; my skin is cracked, with oozing sores.
6 “Me nna kɔ ntɛm sen ɔnwemfo akurokurowa, na ɛkɔ awiei a anidaso biara nni mu.
My days pass quicker than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.
7 Ao, Onyankopɔn, kae sɛ me nkwanna te sɛ ɔhome; na mʼani renhu anigye bio da.
Remember that my life is just a breath; I will not see happiness again.
8 Ani a ehu me mprempren no renhu me bio; mobɛhwehwɛ me, nanso na minni hɔ bio.
Those watching me won't see me anymore; your eyes will be looking for me, but I will be gone.
When a cloud disappears, it's gone, just as anyone who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 Ɔrensan mma ne fi da biara da bio; nʼatenae renkae no bio.
They will never return home, and the people they knew will forget them.
11 “Ɛno nti meremmua mʼano; mifi me honhom ahoyeraw mu akasa, mefi me kra ɔyaw mu anwiinwii.
So, no, I won't hold my tongue—I will speak in the agony of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 So meyɛ ɛpo anaa aboa kɛse a ɔwɔ bun mu, na mode me ahyɛ ɔwɛmfo nsa yi?
Am I the sea or a sea monster that you have to guard me?
13 Sɛ midwen sɛ minya awerɛkyekye wɔ me mpa so, na mʼakongua adwudwo mʼanwiinwii ano a,
If I tell myself, ‘I'll feel better if I lie down in my bed,’ or ‘it will help me to lie down on my couch,’
14 ɛno mpo na wode adaeso yi me hu na wode anisoadehu hunahuna me,
then you scare me so much with dreams and terrify me with visions
15 ɛno nti mepɛ ɔsɛn ne owu, sen me nipadua yi.
that I would rather be strangled—I would rather die than become just a bag of bones.
16 Mimmu me nkwa; mentena ase afebɔɔ. Munnyaa me; na me nna nka hwee.
I hate my life! I know I won't live long. Leave me alone because my life is just a breath.
17 “Ɔdesani ne hena a ne ho hia wo sɛɛ, na wʼani ku ne ho,
Why are human beings so important to you; why are you so concerned about them
18 na wohwehwɛ ne mu anɔpa biara na wosɔ no hwɛ bere biara?
that you inspect them every morning and test them every moment? Won't you ever stop staring at me?
19 Worennyi wʼani mfi me so da, anaasɛ worennyaa me bere tiaa bi mpo ana?
Won't you ever leave me alone long enough to catch my breath?
20 Sɛ mayɛ bɔne a, dɛn na mayɛ wo, Ao adesamma so wɛmfo? Adɛn nti na watu wʼani asi me so? Mayɛ adesoa ama wo ana?
What have I done wrong? What have I done to you, Watcher of Humanity? Why have you made me your target, so that I'm a burden even to myself?
21 Adɛn nti na wonkata me mmarato so na womfa me bɔne nkyɛ me? Ɛrenkyɛ biara, mɛda mfutuma mu. Wobɛhwehwɛ me nanso na minni hɔ bio.”
If so why don't you pardon my sins, and take away my guilt? Right now I'm going to lie down in the dust, and though you will look for me, I will be gone.”
