Hiob 13

1 “Mʼani ahunu yeinom nyinaa, mʼaso ate, na ate aseɛ nso.

Lo, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.

2 Deɛ wonim no, me nso menim; wo nsene me.

What ye know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

3 Nanso mepɛ sɛ mekasa kyerɛ Otumfoɔ no na me ne Onyankopɔn toatoa adwene wɔ mʼasɛm ho.

Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.

4 Mode atorɔ mmom na afɔre me ho; mo nyinaa moyɛ ayaresafoɔ a mo ho nni mfasoɔ!

But ye are forgers of lies. Ye are all physicians of no value.

5 Sɛ mobɛyɛ komm koraa a ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ nyansa ama mo!

O that ye would altogether be silent! And it would be your wisdom.

6 Afei montie mʼano asɛm; montie mʼanoyie.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

7 Mobɛka amumuyɛsɛm ama Onyankopɔn anaa? Mobɛka nnaadaasɛm ama no anaa?

Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

8 Mobɛkyea mo aso ama no? Mobɛka Onyankopɔn asɛm ama no anaa?

Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?

9 Sɛ ɔhwehwɛ mo mu a, ɛbɛsi mo yie anaa? Mobɛtumi adaadaa no sɛdeɛ modaadaa nnipa no anaa?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as deceiving a man, will ye deceive him?

10 Sɛ mokyeaa mo aso wɔ kɔkoam a, sɛdeɛ ɛteɛ biara, ɔbɛka mo anim.

He will surely reprove you if ye secretly show partiality.

11 Nʼanimuonyam mmɔ mo hu anaa? Ne ho suro nntɔ mo so anaa?

Shall not his majesty make you afraid, and his dread fall upon you?

12 Mo kasatɔmmɛ yɛ mmɛbuo a ɛte sɛ nsõ; mo anoyie yɛ dɔteɛ.

Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Monyɛ dinn, na menkasa; na deɛ ɛbɛyɛ me biara mmra me so.

Be quiet. Let me alone that I may speak, and let come on me what will.

14 Adɛn enti na mede me ho to amaneɛ mu na mede me nkwa to me nsam?

Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

15 Ɛwom sɛ ɔkumm me deɛ, nanso ne so na mʼani bɛda; ampa ara mɛdi mʼakwan ho adanseɛ wɔ nʼanim.

Behold, he will kill me; I have no hope. Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.

16 Nokorɛm, yei na ɛbɛyɛ me nkwagyeɛ, ɛfiri sɛ deɛ ɔnsuro Onyankopɔn no rentumi nkɔ nʼanim!

This also shall be my salvation, that a profane man shall not come before him.

17 Montie me nsɛm yi yie; monyɛ aso mma deɛ meka.

Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.

18 Afei a masiesie me nkurobɔ yi, menim sɛ mɛdi bem.

Behold now, I have set my case in order. I know that I am righteous.

19 Obi bɛtumi abɔ me kwaadu anaa? Sɛ ɛte saa deɛ a, anka mɛyɛ komm na mawu.

Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would keep silent and give up the spirit.

20 “Ao Onyankopɔn, yɛ saa nneɛma mmienu yi pɛ ma me, na afei meremfa me ho nsuma wo:

Only do not do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from thy face:

21 Yi wo nsa firi me so kɔ akyirikyiri, na gyae wo ho hu a wode hunahuna me no.

Withdraw thy hand far from me, and do not let thy dread make me afraid.

22 Afei samena me na mɛba, anaa ma menkasa na bua me.

Then call thou, and I will answer, or let me speak, and answer thou me.

23 Mfomsoɔ ne bɔne dodoɔ ahe na mayɛ? Kyerɛ me me mfomsoɔ ne me bɔne.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.

24 Adɛn enti na wode wʼanim asie me na wodwene sɛ meyɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ?

Why do thou hide thy face, and reckon me for thine enemy?

25 Wobɛyɛ ahahan a mframa rebɔ no ayayadeɛ anaa? Wobɛtaa ntɛtɛ a awoɔ anaa?

Will thou harass a driven leaf? And will thou pursue the dry stubble?

26 Wotwerɛ soboɔ a ɛyɛ yea tia me, na woka me mmabunuberɛ mu bɔne nyinaa gu me so.

For thou write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 Wode nkyehoma gu me nan; wohwɛ mʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa so yie na wode ahyɛnsodeɛ ayeyɛ mʼanammɔn mu.

Thou also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. Thou set a bound to the soles of my feet.

28 “Enti onipa nkwa sa te sɛ biribi a aporɔ, te sɛ atadeɛ a nweweboa adie.

Though I am like a rotten thing that decays, like a garment that is moth-eaten.