Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Job replied,
2 “Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
3 Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
Bear with me; let me speak. After I've spoken you can resume mocking me.
4 “Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
Am I complaining against people? Of course not. Why shouldn't I be impatient?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Just take a look at me. Aren't you appalled? Cover your mouth with your hand in shock!
6 Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
Every time I think of what's happened to me I am horrified and I shake all over with fear.
7 Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Why do the wicked continue to live, to grow old and increasingly powerful?
8 Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
Their children are with them; they watch their grandchildren grow up.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
They live in their homes in safety—they are not afraid. God does not use his rod to beat them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
Their bulls always breed successfully; their cows give birth to calves and do not miscarry.
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
They send out their little ones like lambs to play; their children dance around.
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
They sing accompanied by the tambourine and lyre; they celebrate with the music of the flute.
They live out their lives contentedly, and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
Yet they tell God, ‘Get lost! We don't want anything to do with you.
15 Hwan ne otumfoɔ no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpaeɛ a mfasoɔ bɛn na yɛbɛnya?’
Who does the Almighty think he is for us to serve him as slaves? What benefit is there for us if we pray to him?’
16 Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
Such people believe they make their own fortune, but I don't accept their way of thinking.
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 is the lamp of the wicked snuffed out? How often does disaster come upon them? How often does God punish the wicked in his anger?
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
Are they blown along like straw in the wind? Does a tornado come in and carry them away?
19 Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
Some say, ‘God saves up people's punishment for their children.’ But I say, ‘God should punish those people themselves so that they can learn from it.’
20 Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
Let them see their destruction themselves, and drink deeply from God's anger.
21 Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
For they don't care what happens to their families once they're dead.
22 “Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
Can anyone teach God anything he doesn't already know, since he is the one who judges even heavenly beings?
23 Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
One person dies in good health, totally comfortable and secure.
24 na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
25 Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
Another dies after a miserable life without every experiencing happiness.
26 Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
Yet they are both buried in the same dust; they are treated alike in death, eaten by maggots.
27 “Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
Look, I know what you're thinking, and your schemes to do me wrong.
28 Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
You may ask me, ‘Where is the home of the great man? Where is the place where the wicked live?’
29 Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
Haven't you asked people who travel? Don't you pay attention to what they tell you?
30 onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
Wicked people are spared in times of disaster; they are rescued from the day of judgment.
31 Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
Who confronts them with their actions? Who pays them back for what they have done?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
When they eventually die and are carried to the graveyard, their tomb is guarded. The earth of the grave softly covers them.
33 Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
Everyone attends their funeral service; a huge procession of people comes to pay their last respects.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
Why do you try to comfort me with worthless nonsense? Your answers are just a pack of lies!”
