1Then Elihu said:
2“Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
3For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
4Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5“Job says, ‘I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
6Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
8He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
9For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’
10“So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
11He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit34:14 Or Spirit and breath,
15all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
16“If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
21“His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
22There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
31“Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34“Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
1Afei Elihu kaa sɛ,
2“Mo anyansafoɔ, montie me nsɛm;
mo animdefoɔ monyɛ aso mma me.
3Ɛfiri sɛ aso sɔ nsɛm hwɛ
sɛdeɛ tɛkrɛma ka aduane hwɛ no.
4Momma yɛnsese nhunu deɛ ɛyɛ ma yɛn.
Momma yɛn nyinaa mmɔ mu nsua deɛ ɛyɛ.
5“Hiob kaa sɛ, ‘Me ho nni asɛm,
nanso Onyankopɔn abu me ntɛnkyea.
6Ɛwom sɛ mʼasɛm da ɛkwan mu,
nanso, wɔbu me ɔtorofoɔ;
ɛwom sɛ menyɛɛ bɔne biara,
nanso ne bɛmma no ama me apirakuro a ɛnnwu da.’
7Onipa bɛn na ɔte sɛ Hiob
a ɔnom animtiabuo sɛ nsuo?
8Ɔne amumuyɛfoɔ nante;
na ɔne atirimuɔdenfoɔ nso bɔ.
9Ɛfiri sɛ ɔka sɛ, ‘Sɛ onipa bɔ mmɔden sɛ ɔbɛsɔ Onyankopɔn ani a
ɔnnya ho mfasoɔ biara.’
10“Enti mo mmarima a mowɔ nteaseɛ montie me.
Ɛmpare Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛyɛ bɔne,
sɛ Otumfoɔ no bɛyɛ mfomsoɔ.
11Nnipa nneyɛeɛ so na ɔhwɛ tua wɔn ka;
deɛ ɛfata ne nneyɛeɛ na ɔma ɛba ne so.
12Ɛmfata sɛ wɔde mfomsoɔ susu Onyankopɔn,
na ɛmfata sɛ wɔde ntɛnkyea susu Otumfoɔ.
13Hwan na ɔde no sii asase so?
Hwan na ɔde ewiase nyinaa hyɛɛ ne nsa?
14Sɛ ɛyɛɛ ne pɛ
na ɔyii ne Honhom ne nʼahome a,
15anka adasamma nyinaa bɛbɔ mu ayera,
na onipa bɛsane akɔ mfuturo mu.
16“Sɛ mowɔ nhunumu a, montie yei;
montie deɛ meka.
17Obi a ɔkyiri atɛntenenee bɛtumi adi nnipa so?
Mobɛtumi abu Ɔteneneeni kɛseɛ no fɔ anaa?
18Ɛnyɛ Ɔno na ɔka kyerɛ ahemfo sɛ, ‘Mo ho nni mfasoɔ,’
na ɔka kyerɛɛ atitire sɛ, ‘Moyɛ atirimuɔdenfoɔ’?
19Ɔnhwɛ mmapɔmma anim
na ɔnyiyi adefoɔ ne ahiafoɔ mu,
ɛfiri sɛ wɔn nyinaa yɛ ne nsa ano adwuma.
20Wɔwuwu mmerɛ tiawa bi mu, wɔ anadwo dasuo mu;
nnipa no ho woso na wɔsene kɔ;
ahoɔdenfoɔ totɔ a ɛmfiri onipa.
21“Nʼani hwɛ nnipa akwan;
na ɔhunu wɔn anammɔntuo biara.
22Baabiara nni hɔ a aduru sum, esum kabii,
a amumuyɛfoɔ bɛtumi ahinta.
23Ɛho nhia Onyankopɔn sɛ ɔbɛhwehwɛ nnipa mu bio,
a enti ɛsɛ sɛ wɔba nʼanim bɛgye atemmuo.
24Ɔbobɔ aberempɔn gu a ɔnyɛ nhwehwɛmu biara,
na ɔde afoforɔ sisi wɔn ananmu.
25Ɛfiri sɛ ɔhunu wɔn nneyɛeɛ,
ɔtu wɔn gu anadwo na wɔdwerɛ wɔn.
26Ɔtua wɔn amumuyɛsɛm so ka
wɔ baabi a obiara bɛtumi ahunu wɔn,
27ɛfiri sɛ, wɔmane firii nʼakyi kɔeɛ
na wɔampɛ nʼakwan biara anhwɛ.
28Wɔmaa ahiafoɔ sufrɛ duruu nʼanim
na ɛma ɔtee mmɔborɔni su.
29Nanso 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,
30ɔmma onipa a ɔnnim Onyame nni ɔhene,
sɛdeɛ wɔnnsum nnipa no mfidie.
31“Adɛn enti na onipa nka nkyerɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ,
‘Mayɛ bɔne na merenyɛ bɔne bio.
32Kyerɛ me na menhunu;
na sɛ mayɛ bɔne a, merenyɛ saa bio.’
33Ɛsɛ 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.
34“Nnipa a wɔwɔ nteaseɛ pae mu ka,
animdefoɔ a wɔtie me ka kyerɛ me sɛ,
35‘Hiob nnkasa nimdeɛ kwan so;
aba biara nni ne kasa mu.’
36Ao, sɛ wɔsɔɔ Hiob hwɛeɛ kɔɔ akyiri a anka ɛyɛ,
ɛfiri sɛ ɔyiyii nsɛm ano sɛ omumuyɛfoɔ!
37Ɔde atuateɛ ka ne bɔne ho;
ɔde ahantan bɔ ne nsam gu yɛn so
na ɔma ne nsɛm a ɔka tia Onyankopɔn no dɔɔso.”
