Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 “Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Hwan ne otumfoɔ no a ɛsɛ sɛ yɛsom no? Sɛ yɛbɔ no mpaeɛ a mfasoɔ bɛn na yɛbɛnya?’
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] 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 is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 “Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 “Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 Mopɛ sɛ moka kyerɛ me sɛdeɛ asikafoɔ ne amumuyɛfoɔ, wɔn bɔne enti, wɔhwere wɔn agyapadeɛ nyinaa.
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
