Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Then Job responded by saying:
2 “Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
3 Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
4 “Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
6 Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
7 Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
8 Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
15 Hwan ne otumfoɔ no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpaeɛ a mfasoɔ bɛn na yɛbɛnya?’
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
16 Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
17 “Nanso mpɛn ahe na wɔdum amumuyɛfoɔ kanea? Mpɛn ahe na amanehunu ba wɔn so, deɛ Onyankopɔn firi nʼabufuo mu de ba no?
How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
19 Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
20 Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
22 “Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
23 Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
24 na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
26 Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
27 “Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
28 Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
29 Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
30 onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
31 Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
33 Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
