Hiob 17
1 Me sunsum atɔ piti, me nna so atwa, na damena retwɛn me.
My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
2 Ampa ara fɛdifoɔ atwa me ho ahyia; ɛsɛ sɛ mehwɛ wɔn atutupɛ.
If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3 “Ao Onyankopɔn, hyɛ me ɛbɔ a wopɛ. Hwan bio na ɔbɛma me banbɔ?
Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4 Woato wɔn adwene mu a wɔnte asɛm ase; enti woremma wɔnni nkonim.
For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5 Sɛ obi sopa ne nnamfonom de nya akatua a, ne mma ani bɛfira.
For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6 “Onyankopɔn de me ayɛ asɛm a ɛda obiara ano, obi a wɔte ntasuo gu nʼani so.
And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7 Awerɛhoɔ ama mʼani ayɛ samoo me bɔberɛ nyinaa yɛ sunsumma.
And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8 Ateneneefoɔ hunu me a, ɛyɛ wɔn nwanwa. Wɔn a wɔdi bem no bɛsɔre atia wɔn a wɔnni nyamesu.
Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9 Ateneneefoɔ bɛkɔ wɔn anim, na wɔn a wɔn nsa ho teɛ bɛkɔ so anya ahoɔden.
And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
10 “Mo nyinaa mo nsane mmra mmɛsɔ me nhwɛ! Na merennya onyansafoɔ wɔ mo mu.
Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11 Me nna atwam, me nhyehyɛeɛ apansam, saa ara na mʼakoma apɛdeɛ nso ayɛ.
My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12 Saa nnipa yi ma anadwo dane awia; esum mu koraa no, wɔka sɛ, ‘Hann abɛn,’
Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol h7585)
14 sɛ meka kyerɛ porɔeɛ sɛ, ‘Woyɛ mʼagya,’ na me kyerɛ ɔsonsono sɛ, ‘Me maame’ anaa ‘Me nuabaa’ a,
To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
15 na afei mʼanidasoɔ wɔ he? Hwan na ɔbɛtumi anya anidasoɔ bi ama me?
And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
