Hiob 16

1 Afei Hiob buaeɛ sɛ,

But Job answered and said,

2 “Mate nsɛm bebree a ɛte sɛ yeinom; na mo nyinaa moyɛ gyamserefoɔ!

I have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.

3 Mo kasa tentene no mma awieeɛ anaa? Ɛdeɛn na ɛha mo enti a mogu so redi anobaabaeɛ yi?

What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?

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 also will speak as ye [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

5 Nanso, anka mɛhyɛ mo den; anka awerɛkyekyerɛ nsɛm a ɛbɛfiri mʼanomu no bɛma mo ahotɔ.

And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

6 “Nanso sɛ mekasa a, ɔyea a mete no remmoto; na sɛ mankasa nso a, ɛrennyae.

For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?

7 Ao Onyankopɔn, ampa ara woama mabrɛ; woasɛe me fie pasaa.

But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and thou hast laid hold of me.

8 Woakyekyere me, ma abɛyɛ adansedie; me so teɛ ara na ɛreteɛ, na ɛdi adanseɛ tia me.

My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

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.

In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.

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.

He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has smitten me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.

11 Onyankopɔn de me ama abɔnefoɔ. Wato me atwene amumuyɛfoɔ nsam.

For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

12 Na biribiara kɔ yie ma me, nanso ɔdwerɛɛ me; ɔsɔɔ me kɔn mu, too me hwee hɔ. Ɔde me asi nʼani so;

When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.

13 nʼagyantofoɔ atwa me ho ahyia, ɔhwiree me sawa mu a wanhunu me mmɔbɔ maa me bɔnwoma pete guu fam.

They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.

14 Ɔba me so ɛberɛ biara; na ɔto hyɛ me so sɛ ɔkofoɔ.

They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.

15 “Mapam ayitoma akata me wedeɛ so na masie mʼanintɔn wɔ mfuturo mu.

They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

16 Agyaadwotwa ama mʼani ayɛ kɔɔ; sunsum kabii atwa mʼani ho ahyia.

My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

17 Nanso, me nsa nyɛɛ basabasayɛ biara na me mpaeɛbɔ yɛ kronn.

Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 “Ao asase, nkata me mogya so; na mma wɔnsie me sufrɛ!

Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

19 Seesei mpo, me danseni wɔ soro; Me ɔkamafoɔ wɔ soro hɔ.

And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

20 Me ɔdimafoɔ yɛ mʼadamfo ɛberɛ a mesu gu Onyankopɔn soɔ yi;

Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

21 ɔgyina onipa anan mu di ma no wɔ Onyankopɔn anim sɛdeɛ obi di ma nʼadamfo no.

Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbor!

22 “Mfeɛ kakra bi akyi mɛtu kwan akɔ koransane.

But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.