Hiob 12
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Ampa ara mone nnipa no, na mowu a na nyansa asa!
Truly ye are indeed the [right kind of] people, and with you wisdom must die out.
3 Nanso mewɔ adwene sɛ mo ara na monnsene me. Hwan na ɔnnim saa nneɛma yi nyinaa?
I also have sense like you; I do not fall short compared with you: and who possesseth not such things as these?
4 “Mayɛ aseredeɛ ama me nnamfonom, mefrɛɛ Onyankopɔn na ɔbuaeɛ. Mayɛ aseredeɛ tata, nanso metene, na me ho nni asɛm.
I am as one laughed at by his friend, who calleth upon God, while he answered him: [yea, ] a laughing-stock though righteous and innocent.
5 Nnipa a wɔn ho tɔ wɔn bu amanehunu animtiaa sɛdeɛ wɔbu wɔn a wɔn nan rewatiri no awieeɛ animtiaa.
To the unfortunate there is given contempt— according to the thoughts of him that is at ease— prepared [also] for those whose foot slippeth.
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.
Prosperous are the tents of robbers, and security is given to those that provoke God. to him who carrieth his god in his hand.
7 “Bisa mmoa no, na wɔbɛkyerɛ wo anaasɛ ewiem nnomaa no, na wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo
Yet, do only ask of the beasts, and they will instruct thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they will tell it thee;
8 anaasɛ kasa kyerɛ asase, na ɛbɛkyerɛ wo, anaasɛ ma ɛpo mu mpataa nka nkyerɛ wo.
Or speak to the earth, and she will instruct thee; and the fishes of the sea will inform thee
9 Wɔn nyinaa mu hwan na ɔnnim sɛ Awurade nsa na ayɛ yei.
Who knoweth not through all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 Ne nsam na abɔdeɛ nyinaa ahome wɔ ne adasamma nyinaa ahome.
[He] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the spirit of all the bodies of men?
11 Aso nsɔ nsɛm nnhwɛ, sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no anaa?
Doth not the ear try words, as the palate tasteth food for itself?
12 Wɔnnya nyansa mfiri mpanin nkyɛn, na ɛnyɛ ɔnyinkyerɛ na ɛde nteaseɛ ba anaa?
So It with the ancients wisdom, and with [those of] length of days understanding,
13 “Nyansa ne tumi yɛ Onyankopɔn dea; afotuo ne nteaseɛ yɛ ne dea.
That with him are wisdom and strength, his are counsel and understanding.
14 Deɛ ɔbubu guo no, obiara rentumi nsi; deɛ ɔde no to nneduadan mu no, obiara rentumi nyi no.
Behold, he pulleth down, and there can be no rebuilding: he locketh [the prison] upon a man, and there can be no opening,
15 Sɛ ɔma osuo gyae tɔ a, asase no so yɛ wesee; sɛ ɔgyaa osutɔ mu a, ɛsɛe asase no.
Behold, he restraineth the waters, and they dry up; or he suffereth them to flow, and they overturn the earth.
16 Ahoɔden ne nkonimdie wɔ no osisifoɔ ne deɛ wɔsisi noɔ nso wɔ no.
With him are strength and counsel: his are the deceived and the deceiver.
17 Ɔpa afotufoɔ ho ntoma ma wɔkɔ na ɔma atemmufoɔ yɛ nkwasea.
He leadeth counsellors away bereft of sense, and maketh the judges fools.
18 Ɔworɔ ahemfo nkyehoma na ɔde abɔsoɔ bɔ wɔn asene.
He looseth the bond of kings, and bindeth a girdle around their loins.
19 Ɔpa asɔfoɔ ho ntoma, na ɔtu nnipa a wɔn ase atim akyɛre gu.
He leadeth priests away bereft of sense, and the powerful he causeth to walk on crooked paths.
20 Ɔka afotufoɔ a wɔgye wɔn die no kasaboa hyɛ, na ɔgye mpanimfoɔ nhunumu.
He removeth the speech from trusty speakers, and taketh away the intelligence of the aged.
21 Ɔde animguaseɛ gu atitire so na ɔtintim gye ahoɔdenfoɔ nsam akodeɛ.
He poureth contempt upon princes, and the belt of the mighty be looseneth.
22 Ɔda esum mu nneɛma a ahinta adi na ɔde esum kabii ba hann mu.
He layeth open deep things from the midst of darkness, and bringeth out unto light the shadow of death.
23 Ɔyɛ aman akɛseɛ, na ɔsɛe wɔn; ɔtrɛ aman mu, na ɔhwete wɔn mu.
He permitteth the nations to become great, and destroyeth them: he spreadeth out the nations, and leadeth them away.
24 Ɔgye ewiase akannifoɔ adwene firi wɔn nsam; na ɔma wɔkyinkyini asase wesee a ɛkwan nna soɔ so.
He taketh away the sense of the chiefs of the people of the land, and causeth them to wander astray in a wilderness when there is no way.
25 Wɔhwehwɛ wɔ esum mu a wɔnni kanea; na ɔma wɔtɔ ntintan sɛ asabofoɔ.
They grope in the dark without light, and he causeth them to wander astray like a drunken man.
