Hiob 16
1 Afei Hiob buaeɛ sɛ,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Mate nsɛm bebree a ɛte sɛ yeinom; na mo nyinaa moyɛ gyamserefoɔ!
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Mo kasa tentene no mma awieeɛ anaa? Ɛdeɛn na ɛha mo enti a mogu so redi anobaabaeɛ yi?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst 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 well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my 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 condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 “Nanso sɛ mekasa a, ɔyea a mete no remmoto; na sɛ mankasa nso a, ɛrennyae.
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 Ao Onyankopɔn, ampa ara woama mabrɛ; woasɛe me fie pasaa.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 Woakyekyere me, ma abɛyɛ adansedie; me so teɛ ara na ɛreteɛ, na ɛdi adanseɛ tia me.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony 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 wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at 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 now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 Onyankopɔn de me ama abɔnefoɔ. Wato me atwene amumuyɛfoɔ nsam.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down 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 hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself as a mark;
13 nʼagyantofoɔ atwa me ho ahyia, ɔhwiree me sawa mu a wanhunu me mmɔbɔ maa me bɔnwoma pete guu fam.
His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 Ɔba me so ɛberɛ biara; na ɔto hyɛ me so sɛ ɔkofoɔ.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 “Mapam ayitoma akata me wedeɛ so na masie mʼanintɔn wɔ mfuturo mu.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 Agyaadwotwa ama mʼani ayɛ kɔɔ; sunsum kabii atwa mʼani ho ahyia.
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 Nanso, me nsa nyɛɛ basabasayɛ biara na me mpaeɛbɔ yɛ kronn.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 “Ao asase, nkata me mogya so; na mma wɔnsie me sufrɛ!
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Seesei mpo, me danseni wɔ soro; Me ɔkamafoɔ wɔ soro hɔ.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 Me ɔdimafoɔ yɛ mʼadamfo ɛberɛ a mesu gu Onyankopɔn soɔ yi;
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 ɔgyina onipa anan mu di ma no wɔ Onyankopɔn anim sɛdeɛ obi di ma nʼadamfo no.
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 “Mfeɛ kakra bi akyi mɛtu kwan akɔ koransane.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
