Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Then Job answered, and said:
2 “Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
3 Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
Suffer me, and I will speak, and after, if you please, laugh at my words.
4 “Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
Is my debate against man, that I should not have just reason to be troubled?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Hearken to me and be astonished, and lay your finger on your mouth.
6 Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
As for me, when I remember, I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Why then do the wicked live, are they advanced, and strengthened with riches?
8 Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
Their seed continueth before them, a multitude of kinsmen, and of children’s children in their sight.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses are secure and peaceable, and the rod of God is not upon them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
Their cattle have conceived, and failed not: their cow has calved, and is not deprived of her fruit.
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 dance and play.
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
They take the timbrel, and the harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment they go down to hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
Who have said to God: Depart from us, we desire not the knowledge of thy 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 what doth it profit us if we pray to him?
16 Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
Yet because their good things are not in their hand, may the counsel of the wicked 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 shall the lamp of the wicked be put out, and a deluge come upon them, and he shall distribute the sorrows of his wrath?
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
They shall be as chaff before the face of the wind, and as ashes which the whirlwind scattereth.
19 Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
God shall lay up the sorrow of the father for his children: and when he shall repay, then shall he know.
20 Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
His eyes shall see his own destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
For what is it to him what befalleth his house after him: and if the number of his months be diminished by one half?
22 “Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
Shall any one teach God knowledge, who judgeth those that are high?
23 Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
One man dieth strong, and hale, rich and happy.
24 na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
But another dieth in bitterness of soul without any riches:
26 Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.
27 “Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
Surely I know your thoughts, and your unjust 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 prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
Ask any one of them that go by the way, and you shall perceive that he knoweth these same things.
30 onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
Because the wicked man is reserved to the day of destruction, and he shall be brought to the day of wrath.
31 Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
Who shall reprove his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
He shall be brought to the graves, and shall watch in the heap of the dead.
33 Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
He hath been acceptable to the gravel of Cocytus, and he shall draw every man after him, and there are innumerable before him.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
How then do ye comfort me in vain, whereas your answer is shewn to be repugnant to truth?
