Hiob 24
1 “Adɛn enti na Onyankopɔn nhyɛ berɛ mma atemmuo? Adɛn enti na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔn a wɔnim noɔ no hwɛ saa da no anim ɛnso ɛmma da?
Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
2 Nnipa yiyi aboɔ a wɔde ato hyeɛ; na wɔde nnwankuo a wɔawia kɔ hɔ adidi.
[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
3 Wɔpam nwisiaa mfunumu na wɔgye akunafoɔ anantwie sɛ awowasideɛ.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
4 Wɔsum ahiafoɔ firi ɛkwan so na wɔhyɛ asase no so ahiafoɔ ma wɔkɔtetɛ.
They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
5 Ahiafoɔ no yɛ wɔn adwuma pɛ aduane te sɛ ɛserɛ so mfunumu no; asase wesee no so na wɔnya aduane ma wɔn mma.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness go they forth to their work, rising betimes after [their] prey: the desert yieldeth food for them and for their young men.
6 Wɔboaboa mmoa aduane ano wɔ mfuo no so na wɔdi mpɛpɛ wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ bobe nturo mu.
In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
7 Wɔnni ntoma, na wɔda kwaterekwa; wɔnni hwee a wɔde kata wɔn ho wɔ awɔ mu.
They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
8 Mmepɔ so osutɔ fɔ wɔn twɔnn na wɔfomfam mmotan no ho ɛfiri sɛ wɔnni ahatasoɔ.
Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
9 Wɔte awisiaa firi nufoɔ ano; na wɔfa ohiani abotafoa de si ne ka anan mu.
The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
10 Wɔnenam adagya a wɔnni ntoma; wɔsoa ayuo afiafi, nanso ɛkɔm de wɔn ara.
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
11 Wɔkyi ngo wɔn adan mu; wɔtiatia nsakyimena mu, nanso osukɔm de wɔn.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
12 Wɔn a wɔrewuwuo no apinisie firi kuropɔn no mu, na apirafoɔ kra su pɛ mmoa. Nanso Onyankopɔn mfa bɔne nto obiara so.
Out of a populous city is groaning heard, and the soul of the deadly wounded crieth out: yet God regardeth it not as an offence.
13 “Ebinom wɔ hɔ a wɔsɔre tia hann no, wɔn a wɔnnim nʼakwan anaasɛ wɔnnante nʼatempɔn so.
Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
14 Sɛ adekyeɛ hann no kɔ a, owudifoɔ no sɔre na ɔkum ohiani ne mmɔborɔni; adesaeɛ mu, ɔwiawia ne ho sɛ ɔkorɔmfoɔ.
With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
15 Ɔwaresɛefoɔ twɛn ɛberɛ a adeɛ resa; ɔka sɛ, ‘obiara renhunu me,’ na ɔde nʼanim hinta.
And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
16 Esum mu na nnipa bubu apono wura afie mu, na awiaberɛ mu no, wɔtoto wɔn ho ɛpono mu; wɔne hann nni hwee yɛ.
They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
17 Esum kabii yɛ adekyeɛ ma wɔn nyinaa; wɔne esum mu nneɛma a ɛyɛ hu fa nnamfo.
For to all of these alike is the morning as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 “Nanso wɔte sɛ ahuro a ɛtɛ nsuo ani; wɔadome wɔn kyɛfa wɔ asase no so, enti obiara nnkɔ bobe nturo no mu.
Swift are such men [to flee] on the face of the water; accursed is their field on the land; none of them turneth himself to the way, of the vineyards.
19 Sɛdeɛ ɔhyew ne ɔpɛ de sukyerɛmma a anane korɔ no, saa ara na damena de wɔn a wɔayɛ bɔne korɔ. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Awotwaa werɛ firi wɔn, na ɔsonsono di wɔn nam; nnipa bɔne deɛ, wɔnnkae wɔn bio na mmom wɔbubu te sɛ dua.
The mother that bore such a one will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and like a tree will wickedness be broken.
21 Wɔde ɔbaa bonini a ɔnni ba yɛ haboa, na wɔnhunu akunafoɔ mmɔbɔ.
He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
22 Onyankopɔn nam ne tumi so twe atumfoɔ kɔ; ɛwom sɛ wɔnya asetena pa deɛ, nanso wɔnni nkwa ho bɔhyɛ.
But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
23 Ɔtumi ma wɔn tena ase asomdwoeɛ mu, nanso nʼani wɔ wɔn akwan so.
To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Wɔma wɔn so berɛ tiawa bi, na afei wɔnni hɔ bio; wɔbrɛ wɔn ase boaboa wɔn ano sɛ nnipa nyinaa; wɔtwitwa wɔn gu te sɛ aburoo ti.
They are exalted; in but a little while they are no more; and they are brought down low: like all others are they gathered in, and like the top of the ear of corn are they cut off.
25 “Sɛ yei nte saa a, hwan na ɔbɛtumi agye me akyinnyeɛ na ama deɛ maka ayɛ nsɛnhunu?”
But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
