Hiob 12
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Job replied,
2 “Ampa ara mone nnipa no, na mowu a na nyansa asa!
“You really think you're special people, don't you? Obviously when you die, wisdom will die with you!
3 Nanso mewɔ adwene sɛ mo ara na monnsene me. Hwan na ɔnnim saa nneɛma yi nyinaa?
But I too have insights, and you're no better than me. Doesn't everyone know the things you've said?
4 “Mayɛ aseredeɛ ama me nnamfonom, mefrɛɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔbuaeɛ. Mayɛ aseredeɛ tata, nanso metene, na me ho nni asɛm.
But my friends laugh at me because I called on God and he answered me: the innocent man who does right has become an object of derision.
5 Nnipa a wɔn ho tɔ wɔn bu amanehunu animtiaa sɛdeɛ wɔbu wɔn a wɔn nan rewatiri no awieeɛ animtiaa.
People who are comfortable have contempt for those who are in trouble, ready to push over those who are already slipping.
6 Wɔmmfa wɔn nsa nka akorɔmfoɔ ntomadan, na wɔn a wɔma Onyankopɔn bo fuo no wɔ banbɔ na Onyankopɔn bɔ deɛ ɔde ma wɔn ho ban.
Robbers live in peace, and those who make God angry live in safety, trusting their own strength as their ‘god.’
7 “Bisa mmoa no, na wɔbɛkyerɛ wo anaasɛ ewiem nnomaa no, na wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo
But if you ask the animals they will teach you, the birds in the sky will tell you;
8 anaasɛ kasa kyerɛ asase, na ɛbɛkyerɛ wo, anaasɛ ma ɛpo mu mpataa nka nkyerɛ wo.
ask the earth and it will teach you, and the fishes in the sea will tell you.
9 Wɔn nyinaa mu hwan na ɔnnim sɛ Awurade nsa na ayɛ yei.
Which of all these doesn't know that the Lord has done this?
10 Ne nsam na abɔdeɛ nyinaa ahome wɔ ne adasamma nyinaa ahome.
He gives life to every living thing, life to all humankind.
11 Aso nsɔ nsɛm nnhwɛ, sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no anaa?
The ear distinguishes words just like the palate distinguishes foods.
12 Wɔnnya nyansa mfiri mpanin nkyɛn, na ɛnyɛ ɔnyinkyerɛ na ɛde nteaseɛ ba anaa?
Wisdom to distinguish belongs to the old, and the ability to rightly discriminate belongs to those with long experience.
13 “Nyansa ne tumi yɛ Onyankopɔn dea; afotuo ne nteaseɛ yɛ ne dea.
God has wisdom and power, counsel and understanding belong to him.
14 Deɛ ɔbubu guo no, obiara rentumi nsi; deɛ ɔde no to nneduadan mu no, obiara rentumi nyi no.
If he tears something down, nobody can rebuild it. If he imprisons someone, nobody can free them.
15 Sɛ ɔma osuo gyae tɔ a, asase no so yɛ wesee; sɛ ɔgyaa osutɔ mu a, ɛsɛe asase no.
If God holds back the waters, everything dries up; if he releases the waters, the earth floods.
16 Ahoɔden ne nkonimdie wɔ no osisifoɔ ne deɛ wɔsisi noɔ nso wɔ no.
He is mighty and victorious; both deceivers and those deceived are subject to him.
17 Ɔpa afotufoɔ ho ntoma ma wɔkɔ na ɔma atemmufoɔ yɛ nkwasea.
He leads counselors away stripped of their wisdom, he makes judges into fools.
18 Ɔworɔ ahemfo nkyehoma na ɔde abɔsoɔ bɔ wɔn asene.
He removes the chains of office from kings and makes them wear loincloths.
19 Ɔpa asɔfoɔ ho ntoma, na ɔtu nnipa a wɔn ase atim akyɛre gu.
He leads priests away stripped of their religious garments, he overthrows the powerful.
20 Ɔka afotufoɔ a wɔgye wɔn die no kasaboa hyɛ, na ɔgye mpanimfoɔ nhunumu.
He takes away the advice of trusted advisors, he removes the discernment of the elders.
21 Ɔde animguaseɛ gu atitire so na ɔtintim gye ahoɔdenfoɔ nsam akodeɛ.
He pours scorn upon princes and takes away power from the strong.
22 Ɔda esum mu nneɛma a ahinta adi na ɔde esum kabii ba hann mu.
He reveals what is hidden in darkness, and brings into the light the shadow of death.
23 Ɔyɛ aman akɛseɛ, na ɔsɛe wɔn; ɔtrɛ aman mu, na ɔhwete wɔn mu.
He makes nations great and he destroys them; he expands nations and ruins them.
24 Ɔgye ewiase akannifoɔ adwene firi wɔn nsam; na ɔma wɔkyinkyini asase wesee a ɛkwan nna soɔ so.
He removes the understanding of rulers and makes them wander in the wilderness.
25 Wɔhwehwɛ wɔ esum mu a wɔnni kanea; na ɔma wɔtɔ ntintan sɛ asabofoɔ.
They grope around in the dark without a light. He makes them stagger like drunk people.
