Job 31
1 A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
“Me ne mʼani yɛɛ apam sɛ meremfi akɔnnɔ mu, nhwɛ ababaa.
2 And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
Dɛn ne onipa kyɛfa a efi ɔsoro Nyankopɔn nkyɛn? Dɛn ne nʼagyapade a efi ɔsoro Tumfo no nkyɛn?
3 Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
Ɛnyɛ ɔsɛe mma amumɔyɛfo, atoyerɛnkyɛm mma wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne ana?
4 Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
Onhu mʼakwan na ɔnkan anammɔn biara a mitu ana?
5 [And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
“Sɛ manantew wɔ nkontompo mu anaasɛ matu mmirika adi nnaadaasɛm akyi a,
6 Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
ma Onyankopɔn nkari me wɔ nsania papa so na obehu sɛ me ho nni asɛm;
7 If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
sɛ mʼanammɔntu afom ɔkwan, sɛ me koma adi mʼani akyi, anaasɛ me nsa ho agu fi a
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
ɛno de ma afoforo nni nea madua, na ma wontutu me nnɔbae ngu.
9 If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
“Sɛ ɔbea bi atɔ me koma so, anaasɛ matɛw me yɔnko bi pon akyi a,
10 Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
ɛno de, me yere nyam ɔbarima foforo aduan, na mmarima afoforo ne no nna.
11 For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;
Efisɛ anka ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ aniwusɛm ne bɔne a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔtwe aso wɔ so.
12 For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
Ɛyɛ ogya a ɛhyew kodu Ɔsɛe mu; na ebetumi atutu me nnɔbae ase.
13 If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
“Sɛ mabu mʼasomfo mmarima ne mmea ntɛnkyew, bere a wɔne me nyaa asɛm,
14 What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
sɛ Onyankopɔn de si mʼanim a dɛn na mɛyɛ? Sɛ wɔfrɛ me akontaabu a, mmuae bɛn na mɛma?
15 Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?
Ɛnyɛ nea ɔbɔɔ me wɔ ɔyafunu mu no na ɔbɔɔ wɔn? Ɛnyɛ onipa koro no na ɔyɛɛ yɛn baanu wɔ yɛn nanom yafunu mu?
16 If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];
“Sɛ mamma ahiafo nea wɔn koma pɛ anaa mama akunafo ani ayɛ wɔn yaw,
17 Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
sɛ mabɔ mʼaduan ho atirimɔden a mamma ayisaa bi,
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )
nanso efi mmerantebere mu matetew no sɛnea agya bɛyɛ, na efi ɔyafunu mu, mahwɛ akunafo.
19 If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
Sɛ mahu obi a onni adurade na ɔrebrɛ, anaa ohiani bi a onni atade,
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
na sɛ wɔamfi koma mu anhyira me sɛ mede me nguan ho nwi kaa wɔn hyew,
21 If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
sɛ mama me nsa so atia ayisaa bi, esiane sɛ mewɔ tumi wɔ asennii nti a,
22 Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
ɛno de, ma me basa mpan mfi me mmati, ma emmubu mfi nʼapɔw so.
23 For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
Misuroo ɔsɛe a efi Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na nʼanuonyam ho suro nti mantumi anyɛ saa nneyɛe no.
24 If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
“Sɛ mede me werɛ ahyɛ sikakɔkɔɔ mu anaasɛ maka akyerɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa se, ‘Wo na wobɔ me ho ban,’
25 If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
sɛ masɛpɛw me ho wɔ mʼahode bebrebe nti, ahode a me nsa aka yi,
26 If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
sɛ mahwɛ owia ne ne hyerɛn anaa ɔsram a ɔnam anuonyam mu,
27 And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
ama aka me koma a obiara nnim na me nsa yɛɛ wɔn atuu de nidi maa wɔn a,
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
ɛno de, na eyinom nso bɛyɛ bɔne a wobu ho atɛn, efisɛ na manni Onyankopɔn a ɔte ɔsoro no nokware.
29 If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —
“Sɛ mʼani gyee wɔ me tamfo amanehunu nti anaa mesrew no wɔ ɔhaw a aba ne so nti,
30 But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —
memmaa mʼano nyɛɛ bɔne sɛ mɛdome ne nkwa,
31 If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —
sɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ me fi mu nkaa da sɛ, ‘Hena na Hiob pon so nam mmee no da?’
32 In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
Ɔhɔho biara anna abɔnten so da, efisɛ me pon ano daa hɔ da biara maa akwantufo,
33 If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
Makata me bɔne so sɛnea nnipa yɛ de mʼafɔdi ahyɛ me koma mu
34 Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the door; —
esiane sɛ misuroo nnipadɔm ne ahohora a efi mmusua hɔ no nti na meyɛɛ komm a mamfi adi.
35 Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —
(“Ao, sɛ anka mewɔ obi a obetie me. Mede me din ahyɛ mʼanoyi ase, ma Otumfo no mmua me; ma nea ɔbɔ me kwaadu no nkyerɛw ne sobobɔ.
36 Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
Ampa ara, mɛhyɛ wɔ me mmati, mɛhyɛ sɛ ahenkyɛw.
37 The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—
Mebu mʼanammɔntu biara ho akontaa akyerɛ no; mɛkɔ nʼanim sɛ ɔheneba.)
38 If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
“Sɛ mʼasase teɛ mu tia me na nusu fɔw ne nkɔ nyinaa,
39 If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
sɛ madi so aba a mintuaa ka anaasɛ mabu so apaafo no aba mu a,
40 Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
ma nsɔe mfifi nsi awi anan mu na wura mfuw nsi atoko anan mu.” Hiob nsɛm no asi.
