Job 22
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
Na Temanni Elifas buaa sɛ,
2 Can a man be serviceable unto God? Truly the intelligent is serviceable unto himself.
“Onyankopɔn bɛnya onipa ho mfasoɔ anaa? Mpo onyansafoɔ ho bɛba no mfasoɔ anaa?
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it any gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Sɛ woyɛ ɔteneneeni a, anigyeɛ bɛn na Otumfoɔ no bɛnya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfasoɔ bɛn na ɔbɛnya?
4 Is it out of fear of thee that he will reproach thee? or go with thee into judgment?
“Wo kronnyɛ enti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu anaa?
5 Is not thy evil great? and no end to thy iniquities?
Ɛnyɛ wʼamumuyɛ na ɛsoɔ? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
6 For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brothers for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
Wopɛɛ banbɔ firii wo nuanom nkyɛn a ɛnni nteaseɛ biara; wopaa nnipa ho ntoma ma wɔdaa adagya.
7 Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and from the hungry thou hast withholden bread.
Woamma abrɛfoɔ nsuo annom na woamfa aduane amma deɛ ɛkɔm de no.
8 But as for the man of a strong arm, he obtained the land, and the highly honored could dwell therein.
Nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, na ɔwɔ nsase, onimuonyamfoɔ a ɔte so.
9 Widows hast thou sent away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Wopamoo akunafoɔ ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa nwisiaa nso ahoɔden saeɛ.
10 Therefore are snares round about thee, and sudden dread terrifieth thee.
Ɛno enti na mfidie atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so abɔ wo hu yi,
11 Or seest thou not the darkness? and the abundance of water which covereth thee?
adɛn enti na esum aduru a wonhunu adeɛ, na asorɔkye akata wo so.
12 Is not God in the height of heaven? and beholding the highest elevation of the stars, however high they are?
“Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri? Hwɛ sɛdeɛ ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
13 But thou sayest, “What doth God know? can he judge behind the darkness?
Nanso woka sɛ, ‘Ɛdeɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Esum yi mu na ɔbu atɛn anaa?
14 Thick clouds are a covering for him, so that he will not see; and he walketh along on the circle of heaven.”
Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim enti ɔnhunu yɛn ɛberɛ a ɔnenam ɔsoro kɔntɔnkurowi mu.’
15 Wilt thou [thus] observe the path of ancient times which the men of injustice have trodden?
Wobɛkɔ so afa ɛkwan dada a abɔnefoɔ anante soɔ no so?
16 Who were shrivelled up before their time, whose foundation was flooded away like a river;
Wɔpraa wɔn kɔɔeɛ ansa na wɔn berɛ reso, na nsuyire hohoroo wɔn fapem.
17 Who said unto God, “'Depart from us:” and what wrought the Almighty for them?
Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn sɛ, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Ɛdeɛn na Otumfoɔ bɛtumi ayɛ yɛn?’
18 And yet it was he that filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
Nanso, ɛyɛ ɔno na ɔde nnepa hyɛɛ wɔn afie mu, enti metwe me ho mefiri amumuyɛfoɔ afutuo ho.
19 The righteous will see it, and be glad; and the innocent will laugh them to scorn.
Teneneefoɔ hunu wɔn asehweɛ ma wɔn ani gye; na wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm sere wɔn ka sɛ,
20 “Is not he destroyed that rose up against us, and hath not the fire consumed what they had left?”
‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfoɔ, na ogya ahye wɔn agyapadeɛ.’
21 Do but become acquainted with him, and be at peace: thereby will happiness come unto thee.
“Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoeɛ wɔ ne mu; saa ɛkwan yi so na yiedie bɛyɛ wo kyɛfa.
22 Do but accept instruction from his mouth, and lay up his saying in thy heart.
Tie akwankyerɛ a ɛfiri nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wʼakoma mu.
23 If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, so thou wilt but remove wrong-doing far away from thy tents.
Sɛ wosane kɔ Otumfoɔ no nkyɛn a, ɔbɛgye wo atom bio: sɛ woyi amumuyɛsɛm firi wo ntomadan mu
24 And throw down in the dust precious metals, and [the gold of] Ophir to the stones of the brooks:
na woto wo sika mpɔ gu mfuturo mu ne Ofir sikakɔkɔɔ gu abotan a ɛwɔ abɔn mu no so a,
25 Then will the Almighty be thy precious metal, and brightly-shining silver unto thee.
ɛnneɛ Otumfoɔ bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ; ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ amapa ama wo.
26 For then wilt thou have in the Almighty thy delight, and thou canst lift up unto God thy face.
Afei nokorɛm wobɛnya anigyeɛ wɔ Otumfoɔ mu na wobɛpagya wʼani akyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
27 Thou wilt make entreaty unto him, and he will hear thee, and thy vows wilt thou pay.
Wobɛbɔ no mpaeɛ, na ɔbɛtie wo, na wobɛdi wo bɔhyɛ so.
28 And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee; and upon thy ways the light will shine.
Deɛ woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
29 For when men are brought low, thou wilt say, Pride [hath done it]; but those of lowly eyes [God] will help.
Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka sɛ, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, ɔbɛgye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
30 He will even deliver him who is not guiltless: and thou wilt be delivered by the purity of thy hands.
Ɔbɛgye abɔnefoɔ mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so bɛgye wɔn.”
