Hiob 13

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

“Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.

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

What you 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.

Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

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

You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.

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

If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!

6 Afei montie mʼano asɛm; montie mʼanoyie.

Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.

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

Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?

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

Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?

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

Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?

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

Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.

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

Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?

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

Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.

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

Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

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

Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

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

Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.

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

Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.

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

Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.

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

Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.

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

Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.

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

Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:

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

Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.

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

Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.

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

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

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

Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?

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

Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?

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

For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.

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

You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

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

So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.