Hiob 16
1 Afei Hiob buaeɛ sɛ,
Then Job answered:
2 “Mate nsɛm bebree a ɛte sɛ yeinom; na mo nyinaa moyɛ gyamserefoɔ!
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Mo kasa tentene no mma awieeɛ anaa? Ɛdeɛn na ɛha mo enti a mogu so redi anobaabaeɛ yi?
Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
4 Sɛ mo na mowɔ me tebea yi mu a, anka me nso mɛtumi akasa sɛ mo; anka mɛtumi akeka nsɛm a ɛyɛ dɛ atia mo na mabu mo animtiaa.
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
5 Nanso, anka mɛhyɛ mo den; anka awerɛkyekyerɛ nsɛm a ɛbɛfiri mʼanomu no bɛma mo ahotɔ.
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
6 “Nanso sɛ mekasa a, ɔyea a mete no remmoto; na sɛ mankasa nso a, ɛrennyae.
Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
7 Ao Onyankopɔn, ampa ara woama mabrɛ; woasɛe me fie pasaa.
Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
8 Woakyekyere me, ma abɛyɛ adansedie; me so teɛ ara na ɛreteɛ, na ɛdi adanseɛ tia me.
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
9 Onyankopɔn to hyɛ me so tete me wɔ nʼabufuo mu na ɔtwɛre ne se gu me so; deɛ ɔne me anya no pɔkyere nʼani hwɛ me.
His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
10 Nnipa bue wɔn ano di me ho fɛw; wɔbɔ me sotorɔ de bu me animtiaa na wɔka wɔn ho bɔ mu de tia me.
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
11 Onyankopɔn de me ama abɔnefoɔ. Wato me atwene amumuyɛfoɔ nsam.
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
12 Na biribiara kɔ yie ma me, nanso ɔdwerɛɛ me; ɔsɔɔ me kɔn mu, too me hwee hɔ. Ɔde me asi nʼani so;
I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
13 nʼagyantofoɔ atwa me ho ahyia, ɔhwiree me sawa mu a wanhunu me mmɔbɔ maa me bɔnwoma pete guu fam.
His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Ɔba me so ɛberɛ biara; na ɔto hyɛ me so sɛ ɔkofoɔ.
He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15 “Mapam ayitoma akata me wedeɛ so na masie mʼanintɔn wɔ mfuturo mu.
I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
16 Agyaadwotwa ama mʼani ayɛ kɔɔ; sunsum kabii atwa mʼani ho ahyia.
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17 Nanso, me nsa nyɛɛ basabasayɛ biara na me mpaeɛbɔ yɛ kronn.
yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18 “Ao asase, nkata me mogya so; na mma wɔnsie me sufrɛ!
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19 Seesei mpo, me danseni wɔ soro; Me ɔkamafoɔ wɔ soro hɔ.
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 Me ɔdimafoɔ yɛ mʼadamfo ɛberɛ a mesu gu Onyankopɔn soɔ yi;
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
21 ɔgyina onipa anan mu di ma no wɔ Onyankopɔn anim sɛdeɛ obi di ma nʼadamfo no.
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
22 “Mfeɛ kakra bi akyi mɛtu kwan akɔ koransane.
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.
