Hiob 34
1 Afei Elihu kaa sɛ,
Then Elihu continued:
2 “Mo anyansafoɔ, montie me nsɛm; mo animdefoɔ monyɛ aso mma me.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 Ɛfiri sɛ aso sɔ nsɛm hwɛ sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no.
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 Momma yɛnsese nhunu deɛ ɛyɛ ma yɛn. Momma yɛn nyinaa mmɔ mu nsua deɛ ɛyɛ.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 “Hiob kaa sɛ, ‘Me ho nni asɛm, nanso Onyankopɔn abu me ntɛnkyea.
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Ɛwom sɛ mʼasɛm da ɛkwan mu, nanso, wɔbu me ɔtorofoɔ; ɛwom sɛ menyɛɛ bɔne biara, nanso ne bɛmma no ama me apirakuro a ɛnnwu da.’
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 Onipa bɛn na ɔte sɛ Hiob a ɔnom animtiabuo sɛ nsuo?
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 Ɔne amumuyɛfoɔ nante; na ɔne atirimuɔdenfoɔ nso bɔ.
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 Ɛfiri sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Sɛ onipa bɔ mmɔden sɛ ɔbɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani a ɔnnya ho mfasoɔ biara.’
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 “Enti mo mmarima a mowɔ nteaseɛ montie me. Ɛmpare Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛyɛ bɔne, sɛ Otumfoɔ no bɛyɛ mfomsoɔ.
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 Nnipa nneyɛeɛ so na ɔhwɛ tua wɔn ka; deɛ ɛfata ne nneyɛeɛ na ɔma ɛba ne so.
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 Ɛmfata sɛ wɔde mfomsoɔ susu Onyankopɔn, na ɛmfata sɛ wɔde ntɛnkyea susu Otumfoɔ.
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Hwan na ɔde no sii asase so? Hwan na ɔde ewiase nyinaa hyɛɛ ne nsa?
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 Sɛ ɛyɛɛ ne pɛ na ɔyii ne Honhom ne nʼahome a,
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 anka adasamma nyinaa bɛbɔ mu ayera, na onipa bɛsane akɔ mfuturo mu.
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 “Sɛ mowɔ nhunumu a, montie yei; montie deɛ meka.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Obi a ɔkyiri atɛntenenee bɛtumi adi nnipa so? Mobɛtumi abu Ɔteneneeni kɛseɛ no fɔ anaa?
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 Ɛnyɛ Ɔno na ɔka kyerɛ ahemfo sɛ, ‘Mo ho nni mfasoɔ,’ na ɔka kyerɛɛ atitire sɛ, ‘Moyɛ atirimuɔdenfoɔ’?
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 Ɔnhwɛ mmapɔmma anim na ɔnyiyi adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ mu, ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa yɛ ne nsa ano adwuma.
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 Wɔwuwu mmerɛ tiawa bi mu, wɔ anadwo dasuo mu; nnipa no ho woso na wɔsene kɔ; ahoɔdenfoɔ totɔ a ɛmfiri onipa.
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 “Nʼani hwɛ nnipa akwan; na ɔhunu wɔn anammɔntuo biara.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 Baabiara nni hɔ a aduru sum, esum kabii, a amumuyɛfoɔ bɛtumi ahinta.
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 Ɛho nhia Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛhwehwɛ nnipa mu bio, a enti ɛsɛ sɛ wɔba nʼanim bɛgye atemmuo.
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 Ɔbobɔ aberempɔn gu a ɔnyɛ nhwehwɛmu biara, na ɔde afoforɔ sisi wɔn ananmu.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 Ɛfiri sɛ ɔhunu wɔn nneyɛeɛ, ɔtu wɔn gu anadwo na wɔdwerɛ wɔn.
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 Ɔtua wɔn amumuyɛsɛm so ka wɔ baabi a obiara bɛtumi ahunu wɔn,
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔmane firii nʼakyi kɔeɛ na wɔampɛ nʼakwan biara anhwɛ.
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 Wɔmaa ahiafoɔ sufrɛ duruu nʼanim na ɛma ɔtee mmɔborɔni su.
They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 Nanso sɛ ɔyɛ komm a, hwan na ɔbɛtumi abu no fɔ? Sɛ ɔde nʼanim hinta nso a, hwan na ɔbɛhunu no? Nanso ɔdi onipa ne ɔman so pɛpɛɛpɛ,
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30 ɔmma onipa a ɔnnim Onyame nni ɔhene, sɛdeɛ wɔnnsum nnipa no mfidie.
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 “Adɛn enti na onipa nka nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Mayɛ bɔne na merenyɛ bɔne bio.
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 Kyerɛ me na menhunu; na sɛ mayɛ bɔne a, merenyɛ saa bio.’
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 Ɛsɛ sɛ Onyankopɔn gyina deɛ wode wʼano aka so tua wo ka, wɔ ɛberɛ a woayɛ sɛ worennu wo ho anaa? Ɛsɛ sɛ wosi gyinaeɛ, ɛnyɛ me; enti ka deɛ wonim kyerɛ me.
Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 “Nnipa a wɔwɔ nteaseɛ pae mu ka, animdefoɔ a wɔtie me ka kyerɛ me sɛ,
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 ‘Hiob nnkasa nimdeɛ kwan so; aba biara nni ne kasa mu.’
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 Ao, sɛ wɔsɔɔ Hiob hwɛeɛ kɔɔ akyiri a anka ɛyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔyiyii nsɛm ano sɛ omumuyɛfoɔ!
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 Ɔde atuateɛ ka ne bɔne ho; ɔde ahantan bɔ ne nsam gu yɛn so na ɔma ne nsɛm a ɔka tia Onyankopɔn no dɔɔso.”
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
