Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
Na Temanni Elifas buaa sɛ,
2 “How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
“Onyankopɔn bɛnya onipa ho mfasoɔ anaa? Mpo onyansafoɔ ho bɛba no mfasoɔ anaa?
3 Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
Sɛ woyɛ ɔteneneeni a, anigyeɛ bɛn na Otumfoɔ no bɛnya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfasoɔ bɛn na ɔbɛnya?
4 Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
“Wo kronnyɛ enti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu anaa?
5 No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
Ɛnyɛ wʼamumuyɛ na ɛsoɔ? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
6 For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
Wopɛɛ banbɔ firii wo nuanom nkyɛn a ɛnni nteaseɛ biara; wopaa nnipa ho ntoma ma wɔdaa adagya.
7 You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
Woamma abrɛfoɔ nsuo annom na woamfa aduane amma deɛ ɛkɔm de no.
8 Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
Nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, na ɔwɔ nsase, onimuonyamfoɔ a ɔte so.
9 You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
Wopamoo akunafoɔ ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa nwisiaa nso ahoɔden saeɛ.
10 That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
Ɛno enti na mfidie atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so abɔ wo hu yi,
11 That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
adɛn enti na esum aduru a wonhunu adeɛ, na asorɔkye akata wo so.
12 Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
“Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri? Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
13 But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
Nanso woka sɛ, ‘Ɛdeɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Esum yi mu na ɔbu atɛn anaa?
14 Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim enti ɔnhunu yɛn ɛberɛ a ɔnenam ɔsoro kɔntɔnkurowi mu.’
15 Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
Wobɛkɔ so afa ɛkwan dada a abɔnefoɔ anante soɔ no so?
16 They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
Wɔpraa wɔn kɔɔeɛ ansa na wɔn berɛ reso, na nsuyire hohoroo wɔn fapem.
17 They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Ɛdeɛn na Otumfoɔ bɛtumi ayɛ yɛn?’
18 And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
Nanso, ɛyɛ ɔno na ɔde nnepa hyɛɛ wɔn afie mu, enti metwe me ho mefiri amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
19 Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
Teneneefoɔ hunu wɔn asehweɛ ma wɔn ani gye; na wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm sere wɔn ka sɛ,
20 saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfoɔ, na ogya ahye wɔn agyapadeɛ.’
21 Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
“Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoeɛ wɔ ne mu; saa ɛkwan yi so na yiedie bɛyɛ wo kyɛfa.
22 Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
Tie akwankyerɛ a ɛfiri nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wʼakoma mu.
23 If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
Sɛ wosane kɔ Otumfoɔ no nkyɛn a, ɔbɛgye wo atom bio: sɛ woyi amumuyɛsɛm firi wo ntomadan mu
24 and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
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 your precious silver.
ɛnneɛ Otumfoɔ bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ; ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ amapa ama wo.
26 Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
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 keep your promises to him.
Wobɛbɔ no mpaeɛ, na ɔbɛtie wo, na wobɛdi wo bɔhyɛ so.
28 Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
Deɛ woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
29 When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka sɛ, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, ɔbɛgye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
30 God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
Ɔbɛgye abɔnefoɔ mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so bɛgye wɔn.”
