Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
Na Temanni Elifas buaa sɛ,
2 “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
“Onyankopɔn bɛnya onipa ho mfasoɔ anaa? Mpo onyansafoɔ ho bɛba no mfasoɔ anaa?
3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
Sɛ woyɛ ɔteneneeni a, anigyeɛ bɛn na Otumfoɔ no bɛnya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfasoɔ bɛn na ɔbɛnya?
4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
“Wo kronnyɛ enti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu anaa?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
Ɛnyɛ wʼamumuyɛ na ɛsoɔ? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
6 For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
Wopɛɛ banbɔ firii wo nuanom nkyɛn a ɛnni nteaseɛ biara; wopaa nnipa ho ntoma ma wɔdaa adagya.
7 You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
Woamma abrɛfoɔ nsuo annom na woamfa aduane amma deɛ ɛkɔm de no.
8 while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
Nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, na ɔwɔ nsase, onimuonyamfoɔ a ɔte so.
9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
Wopamoo akunafoɔ ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa nwisiaa nso ahoɔden saeɛ.
10 Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
Ɛno enti na mfidie atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so abɔ wo hu yi,
11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
adɛn enti na esum aduru a wonhunu adeɛ, na asorɔkye akata wo so.
12 Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
“Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri? Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
13 Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
Nanso woka sɛ, ‘Ɛdeɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Esum yi mu na ɔbu atɛn anaa?
14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim enti ɔnhunu yɛn ɛberɛ a ɔnenam ɔsoro kɔntɔnkurowi mu.’
15 Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
Wobɛkɔ so afa ɛkwan dada a abɔnefoɔ anante soɔ no so?
16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
Wɔpraa wɔn kɔɔeɛ ansa na wɔn berɛ reso, na nsuyire hohoroo wɔn fapem.
17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Ɛdeɛn na Otumfoɔ bɛtumi ayɛ yɛn?’
18 But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
Nanso, ɛyɛ ɔno na ɔde nnepa hyɛɛ wɔn afie mu, enti metwe me ho mefiri amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
Teneneefoɔ hunu wɔn asehweɛ ma wɔn ani gye; na wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm sere wɔn ka sɛ,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfoɔ, na ogya ahye wɔn agyapadeɛ.’
21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
“Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoeɛ wɔ ne mu; saa ɛkwan yi so na yiedie bɛyɛ wo kyɛfa.
22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
Tie akwankyerɛ a ɛfiri nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wʼakoma mu.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
Sɛ wosane kɔ Otumfoɔ no nkyɛn a, ɔbɛgye wo atom bio: sɛ woyi amumuyɛsɛm firi wo ntomadan mu
24 and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
na woto wo sika mpɔ gu mfuturo mu ne Ofir sikakɔkɔɔ gu abotan a ɛwɔ abɔn mu no so a,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
ɛnneɛ Otumfoɔ bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ; ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ amapa ama wo.
26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
Afei nokorɛm wobɛnya anigyeɛ wɔ Otumfoɔ mu na wobɛpagya wʼani akyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
Wobɛbɔ no mpaeɛ, na ɔbɛtie wo, na wobɛdi wo bɔhyɛ so.
28 Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
Deɛ woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka sɛ, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, ɔbɛgye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
Ɔbɛgye abɔnefoɔ mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so bɛgye wɔn.”
