< Hiob 16 >

1 Afei Hiob buaeɛ sɛ,
Then Job answered and said,
2 “Mate nsɛm bebree a ɛte sɛ yeinom; na mo nyinaa moyɛ gyamserefoɔ!
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are all of you all.
3 Mo kasa tentene no mma awieeɛ anaa? Ɛdeɛn na ɛha mo enti a mogu so redi anobaabaeɛ yi?
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?
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 could speak as all of you do: if your soul were in my soul's position, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 Nanso, anka mɛhyɛ mo den; anka awerɛkyekyerɛ nsɛm a ɛbɛfiri mʼanomu no bɛma mo ahotɔ.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should subside your grief.
6 “Nanso sɛ mekasa a, ɔyea a mete no remmoto; na sɛ mankasa nso a, ɛrennyae.
Though I speak, my grief is not subsided: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Ao Onyankopɔn, ampa ara woama mabrɛ; woasɛe me fie pasaa.
But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.
8 Woakyekyere me, ma abɛyɛ adansedie; me so teɛ ara na ɛreteɛ, na ɛdi adanseɛ tia me.
And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness 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.
He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpens his eyes 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.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 Onyankopɔn de me ama abɔnefoɔ. Wato me atwene amumuyɛfoɔ nsam.
God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands 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 has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 nʼagyantofoɔ atwa me ho ahyia, ɔhwiree me sawa mu a wanhunu me mmɔbɔ maa me bɔnwoma pete guu fam.
His archers compass me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall upon the ground.
14 Ɔba me so ɛberɛ biara; na ɔto hyɛ me so sɛ ɔkofoɔ.
He breaks me with breach upon breach, he runs upon me like a giant.
15 “Mapam ayitoma akata me wedeɛ so na masie mʼanintɔn wɔ mfuturo mu.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 Agyaadwotwa ama mʼani ayɛ kɔɔ; sunsum kabii atwa mʼani ho ahyia.
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Nanso, me nsa nyɛɛ basabasayɛ biara na me mpaeɛbɔ yɛ kronn.
Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 “Ao asase, nkata me mogya so; na mma wɔnsie me sufrɛ!
O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Seesei mpo, me danseni wɔ soro; Me ɔkamafoɔ wɔ soro hɔ.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 Me ɔdimafoɔ yɛ mʼadamfo ɛberɛ a mesu gu Onyankopɔn soɔ yi;
My friends scorn me: but mine eye pours out tears unto God.
21 ɔgyina onipa anan mu di ma no wɔ Onyankopɔn anim sɛdeɛ obi di ma nʼadamfo no.
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbour!
22 “Mfeɛ kakra bi akyi mɛtu kwan akɔ koransane.
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

< Hiob 16 >