Hiob 14
1 “Onipa a ɔbaa awo no no ne nna yɛ tiaa bi na ɔhaw dɔɔso wɔ mu.
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 Ɔfefɛ te sɛ nhwiren na ɛtwintwam; ɔte sɛ sunsum a ɛretwam akɔ, ɔntena hɔ nkyɛ.
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 Woma wʼani kɔ saa onipa yi so? Wode no bɛba wʼanim abɛbu no atɛn anaa?
Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 Hwan na ɔbɛtumi ayi deɛ ɛyɛ kronn afiri efi mu? Obiara nni hɔ.
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 Woahyehyɛ onipa nkwa nna; woahyɛ nʼabosome dodoɔ ato hɔ na woahyɛ no ɛberɛ a ɔrentumi ntra.
Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
6 Enti, yi wʼani firi ne so na ɔnyɛ deɛ ɔpɛ, kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛwie nʼadwuma sɛ ɔpaani.
look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 “Dua mpo anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ ma no: Sɛ wɔtwa a, ɛbɛfefɛ bio, na ne mman foforɔ no rempempan.
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
8 Ne nhini bɛtumi anyini akyɛre asase mu na ne dunsini nso awu wɔ dɔteɛ mu,
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 nanso, ɔnya nsuo a ɛfefɛ, na ɛyiyi mman sɛ dua a wɔatɛ.
at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 Nanso, sɛ nnipa wu a wɔde no hyɛ fam; ɔhome deɛ ɛtwa toɔ a, na afei ɔnni hɔ bio.
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 Sɛdeɛ nsuo tu yera wɔ ɛpo mu no, anaa sɛdeɛ nsuka mu weɛ no,
As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 saa ara na onipa tɔ fam na ɔnsɔre bio; ɛnkɔsi sɛ ɔsoro bɛtwam no, nnipa rensɔre na wɔrennyane wɔn mfiri wɔn nna mu.
so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
13 “Sɛ anka wode me bɛsie damena mu de me ahinta kɔsi sɛ wʼabofuo bɛtwam! Sɛ anka wobɛhyɛ me berɛ na afei woakae me! (Sheol h7585)
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Sɛ onipa wu a, ɔbɛba nkwa mu bio anaa? Mʼaperedie nna mu nyinaa mɛtwɛn akɔsi sɛ me foforɔyɛ bɛba.
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
15 Wobɛfrɛ na mɛgye wo so; wʼani bɛgyina abɔdeɛ a wo nsa ayɛ.
You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 Afei wobɛkan mʼanammɔntuo na worenni me bɔne akyi.
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 Wɔbɛsɔ me bɔne ano wɔ kotokuo mu, na woakata mʼamumuyɛ so.
My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 “Nanso, sɛdeɛ mmepɔ so hohoro na ɛdwirie na abotan nso twe firi ne siberɛ no,
But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 sɛdeɛ nsuo yiyi aboɔ ho na osutɔ brane twe dɔteɛ kɔ no saa ara na wosɛe onipa anidasoɔ.
as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 Wotintim ne so prɛko pɛ, na ɔtwam kɔ; wosakyera ne nipasu na wogya no kwan.
You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 Sɛ wɔhyɛ ne mmammarima animuonyam a, ɔnnim; na sɛ wɔbrɛ wɔn ase a, ɔnhunu.
If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 Ɔno ara wedeɛ mu yea na ɔteɛ na ɔno ara ne ho na ɔgyam.”
He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
