Hiob 22
1 Temanitɔ, Elifaz ɖo eŋu be,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 “Ɖe ame anye viɖenu na Mawua? Ɖe nunyala gɔ̃ hã anye viɖenu nɛa?
Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
3 Dzidzɔ ka wòanye na Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ne ènye ame dzɔdzɔe? Eye viɖe ka wòakpɔ ne fɔɖiɖi mele wò mɔwo ŋu o?
Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
4 “Wò Mawuvɔvɔ̃ tae wòka mo na wò hetsɔ nya ɖe ŋuwòa?
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Ɖe wò nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ mekpe ŋutɔ oa? Ɖe nuwuwu li na wò nu vɔ̃woa?
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 Èbia megbedanu tso nɔviwò ŋutsuwo si susumanɔmetɔe eye nèɖe avɔ le amewo ŋu wotsi amama.
For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
7 Mèna tsi ame siwo nu ti kɔ na la wono o eye nète nuɖuɖu dɔwuitɔwo,
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 evɔ nèhenye ŋusẽtɔ, anyigba le asiwò eye nèle anyigba dzi, bubu le ŋuwò.
For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 Èɖo ahosiwo ɖa asi ƒuƒlu eye nèɖe tsyɔ̃eviwo ƒe ŋusẽ ɖa.
You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 Eya ta mɔkawo ɖe to ɖe wò ɖo eya ta dzɔgbevɔ̃e ƒo ɖe dziwò kpoyi hedo ŋɔdzi na wò
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 eya ta viviti do ale gbegbe be màgate ŋu akpɔ nu o eye eya tae tɔɖɔɖɔ va tsyɔ dziwò ɖo.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 “Ɖe Mawu mele dziƒo kɔkɔtɔ oa? Ɖe mekpɔ ale si ɣletivi kɔkɔtɔwo kɔkɔe oa?
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 Gake ègblɔ be, ‘Nu ka Mawu nya? Ɖe wòdrɔ̃a ʋɔnu to viviti ma tɔgbi mea?
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Lilikpo dodowo xe eŋkume eya ta mekpɔa mí ne ele tsatsam le dziƒo ƒe agbo sesẽwo me o.’
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 Ɖe nàgalé mɔ xoxo si dzi ame vɔ̃ɖiwo zɔ va yi la me ɖe asia?
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Wokplɔ wo dzoe hafi woƒe ɣeyiɣi de eye tsiɖɔɖɔ kplɔ woƒe gɔmeɖokpewo dzoe.
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Wogblɔ na Mawu be, ‘Ɖe asi le mía ŋu! Nu kae Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la awɔ mí?’
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Evɔ wònye eyae tsɔ nu nyuiwo yɔ xɔ na wo fũu, eya ta menɔ adzɔge na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe aɖaŋudede.
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 Ame dzɔdzɔewo kpɔ woƒe gbegblẽ eye dzi dzɔ wo, ame maɖifɔwo gblɔ ɖe wo ŋu fewuɖutɔe be,
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 ‘Wotsrɔ̃ míaƒe futɔwo vavã eye dzo va fia woƒe kesinɔnuwo.’
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 “Tsɔ ɖokuiwò na Mawu eye nànɔ ŋutifafa me kplii, to esia me la, dzɔgbenyui ava wò mɔ dzi.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Xɔ nufiame tso eƒe nu me, eye nàtsɔ eƒe nyawo adzra ɖo ɖe wò dzi me
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 Ne ètrɔ va Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la gbɔ la, agaɖo wò te. Ne èɖe nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ ɖa xaa tso wò agbadɔ gbɔ,
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 eye nètsɔ wò dzonu veviwo kɔ ɖe ke me, tsɔ wò sika adodoe si tso Ofir ƒu gbe ɖe agakpewo tome la,
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 ekema Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la anye wò sika kple klosalo nyuitɔ.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 Ekema le nyateƒe me la, Ŋusẽkatãtɔ ƒe nu ado dzidzɔ na wò eye àwu wò mo dzi ɖe Mawu ŋu.
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Àdo gbe ɖa nɛ, wòaɖo to wò eye àxe wò adzɔgbeɖefewo nɛ.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Nu si nèɖo la, ava eme na wò eye kekeli aklẽ ɖe wò mɔwo dzi.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 Ne woɖiɖi amewo ɖe anyi, eye nègblɔ be, ‘Fɔ wo ɖe dzi!’ la, ekema woafɔ ame siwo wote ɖe anyi la ɖe dzi.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 Aɖe ame si ŋu fɔɖiɖi le gɔ̃ hã, ame si woaɖe to wò asi ƒe kɔkɔenɔnɔ me.”
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
