Hiob 17
1 Me sunsum atɔ piti, me nna so atwa, na damena retwɛn me.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 Ampa ara fɛdifoɔ atwa me ho ahyia; ɛsɛ sɛ mehwɛ wɔn atutupɛ.
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 “Ao Onyankopɔn, hyɛ me ɛbɔ a wopɛ. Hwan bio na ɔbɛma me banbɔ?
And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
4 Woato wɔn adwene mu a wɔnte asɛm ase; enti woremma wɔnni nkonim.
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 Sɛ obi sopa ne nnamfonom de nya akatua a, ne mma ani bɛfira.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 “Onyankopɔn de me ayɛ asɛm a ɛda obiara ano, obi a wɔte ntasuo gu nʼani so.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 Awerɛhoɔ ama mʼani ayɛ samoo me bɔberɛ nyinaa yɛ sunsumma.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Ateneneefoɔ hunu me a, ɛyɛ wɔn nwanwa. Wɔn a wɔdi bem no bɛsɔre atia wɔn a wɔnni nyamesu.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 Ateneneefoɔ bɛkɔ wɔn anim, na wɔn a wɔn nsa ho teɛ bɛkɔ so anya ahoɔden.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 “Mo nyinaa mo nsane mmra mmɛsɔ me nhwɛ! Na merennya onyansafoɔ wɔ mo mu.
But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
11 Me nna atwam, me nhyehyɛeɛ apansam, saa ara na mʼakoma apɛdeɛ nso ayɛ.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 Saa nnipa yi ma anadwo dane awia; esum mu koraa no, wɔka sɛ, ‘Hann abɛn,’
These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
14 sɛ meka kyerɛ porɔeɛ sɛ, ‘Woyɛ mʼagya,’ na me kyerɛ ɔsonsono sɛ, ‘Me maame’ anaa ‘Me nuabaa’ a,
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 na afei mʼanidasoɔ wɔ he? Hwan na ɔbɛtumi anya anidasoɔ bi ama me?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
