Hiob 34
1 Afei Elihu kaa sɛ,
Then Elihu continued,
2 “Mo anyansafoɔ, montie me nsɛm; mo animdefoɔ monyɛ aso mma me.
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
3 Ɛfiri sɛ aso sɔ nsɛm hwɛ sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no.
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
4 Momma yɛnsese nhunu deɛ ɛyɛ ma yɛn. Momma yɛn nyinaa mmɔ mu nsua deɛ ɛyɛ.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
5 “Hiob kaa sɛ, ‘Me ho nni asɛm, nanso Onyankopɔn abu me ntɛnkyea.
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me 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.’
Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
7 Onipa bɛn na ɔte sɛ Hiob a ɔnom animtiabuo sɛ nsuo?
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
8 Ɔne amumuyɛfoɔ nante; na ɔne atirimuɔdenfoɔ nso bɔ.
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
9 Ɛfiri sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Sɛ onipa bɔ mmɔden sɛ ɔbɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani a ɔnnya ho mfasoɔ biara.’
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
10 “Enti mo mmarima a mowɔ nteaseɛ montie me. Ɛmpare Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛyɛ bɔne, sɛ Otumfoɔ no bɛyɛ mfomsoɔ.
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
11 Nnipa nneyɛeɛ so na ɔhwɛ tua wɔn ka; deɛ ɛfata ne nneyɛeɛ na ɔma ɛba ne so.
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
12 Ɛmfata sɛ wɔde mfomsoɔ susu Onyankopɔn, na ɛmfata sɛ wɔde ntɛnkyea susu Otumfoɔ.
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
13 Hwan na ɔde no sii asase so? Hwan na ɔde ewiase nyinaa hyɛɛ ne nsa?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
14 Sɛ ɛyɛɛ ne pɛ na ɔyii ne Honhom ne nʼahome a,
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
15 anka adasamma nyinaa bɛbɔ mu ayera, na onipa bɛsane akɔ mfuturo mu.
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
16 “Sɛ mowɔ nhunumu a, montie yei; montie deɛ meka.
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
17 Obi a ɔkyiri atɛntenenee bɛtumi adi nnipa so? Mobɛtumi abu Ɔteneneeni kɛseɛ no fɔ anaa?
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
18 Ɛnyɛ Ɔno na ɔka kyerɛ ahemfo sɛ, ‘Mo ho nni mfasoɔ,’ na ɔka kyerɛɛ atitire sɛ, ‘Moyɛ atirimuɔdenfoɔ’?
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
19 Ɔnhwɛ mmapɔmma anim na ɔnyiyi adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ mu, ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa yɛ ne nsa ano adwuma.
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
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 a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
21 “Nʼani hwɛ nnipa akwan; na ɔhunu wɔn anammɔntuo biara.
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
22 Baabiara nni hɔ a aduru sum, esum kabii, a amumuyɛfoɔ bɛtumi ahinta.
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
23 Ɛho nhia Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛhwehwɛ nnipa mu bio, a enti ɛsɛ sɛ wɔba nʼanim bɛgye atemmuo.
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Ɔbobɔ aberempɔn gu a ɔnyɛ nhwehwɛmu biara, na ɔde afoforɔ sisi wɔn ananmu.
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
25 Ɛfiri sɛ ɔhunu wɔn nneyɛeɛ, ɔtu wɔn gu anadwo na wɔdwerɛ wɔn.
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
26 Ɔtua wɔn amumuyɛsɛm so ka wɔ baabi a obiara bɛtumi ahunu wɔn,
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
27 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔmane firii nʼakyi kɔeɛ na wɔampɛ nʼakwan biara anhwɛ.
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
28 Wɔmaa ahiafoɔ sufrɛ duruu nʼanim na ɛma ɔtee mmɔborɔni su.
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
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,
Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
30 ɔmma onipa a ɔnnim Onyame nni ɔhene, sɛdeɛ wɔnnsum nnipa no mfidie.
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
31 “Adɛn enti na onipa nka nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Mayɛ bɔne na merenyɛ bɔne bio.
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
32 Kyerɛ me na menhunu; na sɛ mayɛ bɔne a, merenyɛ saa bio.’
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't 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.
then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
34 “Nnipa a wɔwɔ nteaseɛ pae mu ka, animdefoɔ a wɔtie me ka kyerɛ me sɛ,
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
35 ‘Hiob nnkasa nimdeɛ kwan so; aba biara nni ne kasa mu.’
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
36 Ao, sɛ wɔsɔɔ Hiob hwɛeɛ kɔɔ akyiri a anka ɛyɛ, ɛfiri sɛ ɔyiyii nsɛm ano sɛ omumuyɛfoɔ!
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
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.”
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
