Hiob 38
1 Afei, Awurade firi ahum mu buaa Hiob sɛ,
Then did the Lord address Job out of the storm-wind, and said,
2 “Hwan ne deɛ ɔde nsɛm a nimdeɛ nni mu katakata mʼafotuo so?
Who is this that casteth darkness [on my] counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Hyɛ wo ho den sɛ ɔbarima; mɛbisa wo nsɛm, na wobɛyi mʼano.
Do but gird up like a mighty man thy loins: and I will ask thee, and do thou inform me.
4 “Ɛberɛ a metoo asase fapem no, na wowɔ he? Sɛ wonim a, ka ɛ.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? tell it, if thou hast any understanding [of it].
5 Hwan na ɔsusuu ne tenten ne ne tɛtrɛtɛ? Ampa ara wonim! Hwan na ɔtwee susuhoma faa ani?
Who fixed her measurements, if thou knowest it? or who stretched the measuring-line over her?
6 Ɛdeɛn so na ɛgyina, anaasɛ hwan na ɔtoo ne tweatiboɔ no,
Upon what are her foundation-pillars placed at rest? or who laid her corner-stone:
7 ɛberɛ a anɔpa nsoromma bɔɔ mu too dwom, na abɔfoɔ nyinaa de anigyeɛ teaam no?
When altogether sang the morning stars in gladness, and shouted for joy all the sons of God?
8 “Hwan na ɔkaa ɛpo hyɛɛ apono akyi, ɛberɛ a ɛpue firii yafunu mu,
And who closed up with doors the sea, when, issuing forth, it came out of the deep bosom of the earth?
9 ɛberɛ a mede omununkum yɛɛ nʼaduradeɛ na mede esum kabii kyekyeree noɔ,
When I made the clouds its garment, and thick fog its swaddling-cloth,
10 ɛberɛ a metoo hyeɛ maa noɔ na mesisii nʼapono ne nʼadaban,
And when I decreed for it my law, and set [for it] bars and doors,
11 ɛberɛ a mekaa sɛ, ‘Ɛha ara na wobɛduru, ɛntra ha; ɛha na wʼahantan asorɔkyeɛ no mmɛso’?
And said, Thus far mayest thou come, but no farther; and here shall be stayed [thy strength] in the pride of thy waves?
12 “Woahyɛ mmara ama adekyeeɛ da? Anaa woakyerɛ no nʼafa,
Didst thou ever, in all thy days, command the morning; didst thou ever assign the morning-dawn its place:
13 sɛ ɛnkɔka asase ano na ɛntu amumuyɛfoɔ mfiri so?
That it might lay hold of the ends of the earth, so that the wicked might be shaken out therefrom?
14 Asase fa ne bɔberɛ sɛ dɔteɛ a ɛhyɛ nsɔano ase; na ɛso tebea da adi te sɛ atadeɛ.
She is changed as the sealing-clay: and [all things] stand as though newly clad.
15 Wɔde amumuyɛfoɔ hann akame wɔn, na wɔn abasa a wɔapagya no mu abu.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
16 “Woapɛɛpɛɛ mu ahunu nsutire a ɛpo firi mu ba anaa woanante ne bunu mu?
Didst thou ever penetrate as far as the springs of the sea? or wander through the bottom of the deep?
17 Wɔde owuo apono akyerɛ wo? Woahunu owuo sunsumma apono anaa?
Were the gates of death ever laid open unto thee? or canst thou see the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Woate ewiase a ɛda hɔ hahanaa no ase anaa? Sɛ wonim yeinom nyinaa a, ka kyerɛ me.
Hast thou a clear understanding of the breadth of the earth? Tell it, if thou knowest it all.
19 “Ɛhe na hann firi ba? Na ɛhe na esum nso kɔ?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light dwelleth? and the darkness—where is its place,
20 Wobɛtumi de wɔn akɔ wɔn siberɛ? Wonim akwan a ɛkɔ wɔn atenaeɛ?
That thou mightest take each to its boundary, and that thou mightest mark the pathways to its house?
21 Ampa ara wonim, ɛfiri sɛ na woawo wo dada. Woanyini yie!
Thou [surely] knowest it; because thou wast then born, and the number of thy days is great!
22 “Woakɔ sukyerɛmma adekoradan mu da, anaa woahunu asukɔtweaa adekoradan
Didst thou ever enter into the treasuries of the snow? or canst thou see the treasuries of the hail,
23 a makora so ama ahohiahia berɛ, ɔsa ne akodie nna?
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of fight and battle?
24 Ɛkwan bɛn na ɛkɔ baabi a anyinam firi ba, anaa baabi a apueeɛ mframa firi na ɛbɔ fa asase so?
Where is the way [to the spot where] the light divideth itself, [where] the east wind is scattered over the earth?
25 Hwan na ɔtwaa ɛka maa osubransam, ne ɛkwan maa aprannaa mmobom,
Who hath divided off watercourses for the overflowing rain, and a way for the lightning [that is followed by] thunders,
26 sɛ ɛbɛtɔ agu asase a obiara nte soɔ so, anweatam a obiara nni soɔ,
To bring rain on a land, void of men; on a wilderness wherein no son of earth [is found];
27 na ama asase bonini a ɛyɛ wesee yi afɔ na ɛserɛ afifiri so?
To satisfy waste and desolate lands; and to promote the growth of the tender grass?
28 Osutɔ wɔ agya anaa? Hwan na ɔyɛ agya ma obosuo?
Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of the dew?
29 Hwan yafunu mu na nsukyeneeɛ fire? Hwan na ɔwoo nsukyeneeɛ mporoporowa firi soro
Out of whose womb cometh forth the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven—who giveth birth to it?
30 ɛberɛ a nsuo kyene dane sɛ ɛboɔ, na ebunu ani kyene?
[When] like a stone the waters are congealed, and the face of the deep is bound in fetters?
31 “Wobɛtumi de ahoma akyekyere Akokɔbaatan ne ne mma? Wobɛtumi asane Nwenwenente nhoma anaa?
Canst thou bind together the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the bands of Orion?
32 Wobɛtumi de anɔpa nsoromma aba wɔ ne berɛ mu anaasɛ wobɛtumi ayi sisire ne ne mma afiri hɔ?
Canst thou bring forth the constellations of the zodiac, each in its season? or canst thou guide the Bear with its young?
33 Wonim mmara a ɛfa ewiem ho? Wobɛtumi de Onyankopɔn ahennie aba asase so?
Knowest thou the laws of heaven? or dost thou appoint its rule on the earth?
34 “Wobɛtumi ama wo nne aduru omununkum so na wode nsuo akata wo ho anaa?
Canst thou lift up to the clouds thy voice, that the abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Wobɛtumi ama anyinam atwa? Wɔbɛka akyerɛ wo sɛ, ‘Yɛnnie anaa’?
Canst thou send out lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here are we?
36 Hwan na ɔde nyansa ma akoma anaasɛ ɔde nteaseɛ hyɛ adwene mu.
Who hath put wisdom in the dark clouds? or who hath given understanding to the bright meteors?
37 Hwan na ɔwɔ nyansa a wɔde kan omununkum? Hwan na ɔbɛtumi akyea ɔsoro nsuo nkotokuo,
Who ordaineth the skies with wisdom? or who emptieth out the bottles of heaven.
38 ɛberɛ a mfuturo ayɛ den ama dɔteɛ atɔatɔ keka bɔ mu.
When the dust is poured out as molten metal, and the clods are made to cleave fast together?
39 “Wokɔ ahayɔ ma gyatabereɛ ma agyata didi mee
Dost thou hunt for the lioness her prey? and suppliest thou the food for the young lions,
40 ɛberɛ a wɔbutubutu wɔn abɔn ano anaasɛ wɔtetɛ nnɔtɔ ase?
When they are couched in their lairs, rest in the thicket, lying in wait?
41 Hwan na ɔma anene aduane ɛberɛ a ne mma su frɛ Onyankopɔn na wɔkyinkyini pɛ aduane?
Who provideth for the raven his provision? when his young ones cry unto God, and wander about for lack of food?
