Hiob 21
1 Na Hiob buaa sɛ,
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 “Montie me nsɛm no yie. Momma yei nyɛ awerɛkyekyerɛ a mode ma me.
Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:
3 Monnya ntoboaseɛ mma me ɛberɛ a merekasa, na sɛ mekasa wie a, monkɔso nni fɛ.
Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!
4 “Me nwiinwii hyɛ onipa anaa? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ menya ntoboaseɛ?
Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Monhwɛ me, na mo ho nnwiri mo; momfa mo nsa nkata mo ano.
Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!
6 Sɛ medwene yei ho a, mebɔ hu; na me ho popo.
When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —
7 Adɛn enti na amumuyɛfoɔ tena nkwa mu? Wɔnyini kyɛ na wɔkɔ so di tumi.
Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?
8 Wɔhunu wɔn mma a atwa wɔn ho ahyia no nkɔsoɔ, wɔhunu wɔn nananom.
Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;
9 Ɔhaw nni wɔn afie na ehu nni hɔ; Onyankopɔn asotwe mma wɔn so.
Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;
10 Wɔn anantwinini nyɛ akrawa; na wɔn anantwibereɛ wo a, wɔmpɔn.
His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;
11 Wɔka wɔn mma bɔ mu te sɛ nnwankuo; na emu mmotafowa no hurihuri.
They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;
12 Wɔto nnwom wɔ akasaeɛ ne sankuo so; na wɔde atɛntɛbɛn nnyegyeeɛ gye wɔn ani.
They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;
They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)
14 Nanso wɔka kyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Firi yɛn so! Yɛmpɛ sɛ yɛhunu wʼakwan.
Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.
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? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?
16 Nanso, wɔn nkɔsoɔ no nni wɔn nsam, enti metwe me ho firi amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is 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 oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he in his anger;
18 Mpɛn ahe na wɔyɛ sɛ ɛserɛ wɔ mframa ano, te sɛ ntɛtɛ a mframa den bi apra wɔn?
They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.
19 Wɔka sɛ, ‘Onyankopɔn kora onipa asotwe so de twɛn ne mma.’ Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔtwe ɔnipa no ankasa aso ma ɔhunu.
Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;
20 Ma wɔn ankasa ani nhunu wɔn sɛeɛ; ma Otumfoɔ abufuhyeɛ no nka wɔn ani.
His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.
21 Wɔn abusuafoɔ a wɔagya wɔn akyire no renya hwee nʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa bɛsɛe.
For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?
22 “Obi bɛtumi akyerɛ Onyankopɔn nyansa, wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔbu atitire mpo atɛn?
Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?
23 Obi wu wɔ ɛberɛ a ɔwɔ ahoɔden; ne ho tɔ no na nʼaso mu adwo no,
This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;
24 na ne onipadua yɛ frɔmm, na ɛhon ahyɛ ne nnompe ma.
His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;
25 Ɔfoforɔ nso de ɔkra mu yeadie wu, a wanka asetena pa anhwɛ da.
Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:
26 Wɔsie wɔn nyinaa wɔ mfuturo korɔ mu, ma asonson korɔ no ara nuka wɔn.
Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.
27 “Mahunu mo adwene, ɛkwan a mopɛ sɛ mobu me fɔ.
Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!
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 the dwelling-tent of the lawless?
29 Nanso mommisa wɔn a wɔtu kwan; wɔbɛka akyerɛ mo sɛ
Have ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?
30 onipa bɔne nya ne ti didi mu amanehunu da, na wɔgyaa no ma no dwane abufuhyeɛ da.
That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.
31 Hwan na ɔtumi kasa nʼanim? Hwan na ɔtua no deɛ wayɛ so ka?
Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?
32 Wɔsoa no kɔ damena mu, na wɔwɛn nʼaboda.
Yet, he, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;
33 Bɔnhwa mu dɔteɛ yɛ no dɛ; nnipa nyinaa di nʼakyi, na ɛdɔm a wɔntumi nkan wɔn di nʼanim.
Pleasant to him are the mounds of the torrent-bed, —and, after him, doth every man march, as, before him, there were without number.
34 “Enti ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mode mo nsɛnhunu akyekyere me werɛ? Mo mmuaeɛ nyɛ hwee sɛ atorɔ!”
How then should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?
