1“My eyes have seen all this,
my ears have heard and understood it.
2What you know, I also know;
I am not inferior to you.
3But I desire to speak to the Almighty
and to argue my case with God.
4You, however, smear me with lies;
you are worthless physicians, all of you!
5If only you would be altogether silent!
For you, that would be wisdom.
6Hear now my argument;
listen to the pleas of my lips.
7Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?
Will you speak deceitfully for him?
8Will you show him partiality?
Will you argue the case for God?
9Would it turn out well if he examined you?
Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?
10He would surely call you to account
if you secretly showed partiality.
11Would not his splendor terrify you?
Would not the dread of him fall on you?
12Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;
your defenses are defenses of clay.
13“Keep silent and let me speak;
then let come to me what may.
14Why do I put myself in jeopardy
and take my life in my hands?
15Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;
I will surely13:15 Or He will surely slay me; I have no hope— / yet I will defend my ways to his face.
16Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,
for no godless person would dare come before him!
17Listen carefully to what I say;
let my words ring in your ears.
18Now that I have prepared my case,
I know I will be vindicated.
19Can anyone bring charges against me?
If so, I will be silent and die.
20“Only grant me these two things, God,
and then I will not hide from you:
21Withdraw your hand far from me,
and stop frightening me with your terrors.
22Then summon me and I will answer,
or let me speak, and you reply to me.
23How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
Show me my offense and my sin.
24Why do you hide your face
and consider me your enemy?
25Will you torment a windblown leaf?
Will you chase after dry chaff?
26For you write down bitter things against me
and make me reap the sins of my youth.
27You fasten my feet in shackles;
you keep close watch on all my paths
by putting marks on the soles of my feet.
28“So man wastes away like something rotten,
like a garment eaten by moths.
1“Mʼani ahunu yeinom nyinaa,
mʼaso ate, na ate aseɛ nso.
2Deɛ wonim no, me nso menim;
wo nsene me.
3Nanso mepɛ sɛ mekasa kyerɛ Otumfoɔ no
na me ne Onyankopɔn toatoa adwene wɔ mʼasɛm ho.
4Mode atorɔ mmom na afɔre me ho;
mo nyinaa moyɛ ayaresafoɔ a mo ho nni mfasoɔ!
5Sɛ mobɛyɛ komm koraa a
ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ nyansa ama mo!
6Afei montie mʼano asɛm;
montie mʼanoyie.
7Mobɛka amumuyɛsɛm ama Onyankopɔn anaa?
Mobɛka nnaadaasɛm ama no anaa?
8Mobɛkyea mo aso ama no?
Mobɛka Onyankopɔn asɛm ama no anaa?
9Sɛ ɔhwehwɛ mo mu a, ɛbɛsi mo yie anaa?
Mobɛtumi adaadaa no sɛdeɛ modaadaa nnipa no anaa?
10Sɛ mokyeaa mo aso wɔ kɔkoam a,
sɛdeɛ ɛteɛ biara, ɔbɛka mo anim.
11Nʼanimuonyam mmɔ mo hu anaa?
Ne ho suro nntɔ mo so anaa?
12Mo kasatɔmmɛ yɛ mmɛbuo a ɛte sɛ nsõ;
mo anoyie yɛ dɔteɛ.
13“Monyɛ dinn, na menkasa;
na deɛ ɛbɛyɛ me biara mmra me so.
14Adɛn enti na mede me ho to amaneɛ mu
na mede me nkwa to me nsam?
15Ɛwom sɛ ɔkumm me deɛ, nanso ne so na mʼani bɛda;
ampa ara mɛdi mʼakwan ho adanseɛ wɔ nʼanim.
16Nokorɛm, yei na ɛbɛyɛ me nkwagyeɛ,
ɛfiri sɛ deɛ ɔnsuro Onyankopɔn no rentumi nkɔ nʼanim!
17Montie me nsɛm yi yie;
monyɛ aso mma deɛ meka.
18Afei a masiesie me nkurobɔ yi,
menim sɛ mɛdi bem.
19Obi bɛtumi abɔ me kwaadu anaa?
Sɛ ɛte saa deɛ a, anka mɛyɛ komm na mawu.
20“Ao Onyankopɔn, yɛ saa nneɛma mmienu yi pɛ ma me,
na afei meremfa me ho nsuma wo:
21Yi wo nsa firi me so kɔ akyirikyiri,
na gyae wo ho hu a wode hunahuna me no.
22Afei samena me na mɛba,
anaa ma menkasa na bua me.
23Mfomsoɔ ne bɔne dodoɔ ahe na mayɛ?
Kyerɛ me me mfomsoɔ ne me bɔne.
24Adɛn enti na wode wʼanim asie me
na wodwene sɛ meyɛ wo ɔtamfoɔ?
25Wobɛyɛ ahahan a mframa rebɔ no ayayadeɛ anaa?
Wobɛtaa ntɛtɛ a awoɔ anaa?
26Wotwerɛ soboɔ a ɛyɛ yea tia me,
na woka me mmabunuberɛ mu bɔne nyinaa gu me so.
27Wode nkyehoma gu me nan;
wohwɛ mʼanammɔnkwan nyinaa so yie
na wode ahyɛnsodeɛ ayeyɛ mʼanammɔn mu.
28“Enti onipa nkwa sa te sɛ biribi a aporɔ,
te sɛ atadeɛ a nweweboa adie.
