Hiob 31
1 “Mebla nu kple nye ŋku be megakpɔ ɖetugbi aɖeke ahiãdzetɔe o.
I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
2 Elabena nu kae nye amegbetɔ tɔ gome tso Mawu si le dziƒo la gbɔ kple eƒe domenyinu tso Ŋusẽkatãtɔ si le dziƒo ʋĩi la gbɔ?
For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
3 Ɖe menye gbegblẽ wònye na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo kple dzɔgbevɔ̃e na nu tovo wɔlawo oa?
Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
4 Ɖe mekpɔ nye mɔwo eye wòxlẽ nye afɔɖeɖe ɖe sia ɖe oa?
Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
5 “Nenye be mezɔ le aʋatsokaka me alo nye afɔ ɖe abla ɖe amebeble ŋuti la,
If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
6 ekema Mawu nedam le nudanu nyuitɔ dzi eye wòanya be nyemeɖi fɔ o.
(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )
7 Nenye be nye afɔ tra le mɔ la dzi, nenye be nye dzi kplɔ nu si nye ŋkuwo kpɔ la ɖo alo nye asiwo ƒo ɖi la,
If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
8 ekema ame bubuwo neɖu nu siwo meƒã eye woneho nye nukuwo le bo dzi.
Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
9 “Ne nyɔnu aɖe flu nye dzi alo mede xa ɖe nye aƒelika ƒe ʋɔtru nu la,
If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
10 ekema srɔ̃nye netu bli na ŋutsu bubu eye ŋutsu bubuwo nedɔ kplii.
Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
11 Elabena esia anye ŋukpenanu kple nu vɔ̃ si dze na ʋɔnudɔdrɔ̃.
For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
12 Enye dzo si bina hena gbegblẽ, eye wòaho nye nukuwo akɔ ɖi.
It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
13 “Ne nyemetso afia nyui na nye dɔlaŋutsuwo kple dɔlanyɔnuwo ne wotsɔ nya ɖe ŋunye o la,
If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
14 nu ka mawɔ ne Mawu bia gbem? Ŋuɖoɖo ka mana ne eyɔm be mana akɔnta?
What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
15 Ɖe menye ame si wɔm ɖe vidzidɔ me lae wɔ woawo hã oa? Ɖe menye eya koe wɔ mí ame evea katã ɖe mía dadawo ƒe dɔ me oa?
Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
16 “Nenye be mete hiãtɔwo woƒe didiwo alo mena nu te ahosiwo ƒe ŋkuwo ŋu,
If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
17 nenye be nye ɖeɖe meɖu nye abolo heku ŋɔ tsyɔ̃evi la, eya ko woagblɔ nya aɖe,
If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
18 evɔ la tso nye ɖekakpuime ke, menyi tyɔẽviwo abe fofo ene eye tso nye ɖevime ke, mefia mɔ ahosiwo.
(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )
19 Ne mekpɔ ame aɖe wòle tsɔtsrɔ̃m le avɔmanɔamesi ta alo hiãtɔ si mekpɔ awu ne wòado o
If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
20 eye eƒe dzi meyram be metsɔ avɔ si wowɔ kple nye alẽwo ƒe fu nɛ be wòade dzo lãme nɛ o,
If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
21 ne mekɔ nye asi dzi ɖe tsyɔ̃evi ŋu, evɔa menya be woxɔa nye nya le ʋɔnu la,
If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
22 ekema na be nye abɔ nage le abɔgba ŋu eye wòaŋe le ekpeƒe.
May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
23 Elabena gbegblẽ si tso Mawu gbɔ la le ŋɔ dzim nam, eye vɔvɔ̃ na eƒe atsyɔ̃ mana mawɔ nu mawo o.
For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
24 “Nenye ɖe meɖo dzi ɖe sika ŋu alo megblɔ na sika nyuitɔ be, ‘Wòe nye nye sitsoƒe,’
If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
25 nenye ɖe mekpɔ dzidzɔ le nye kesinɔnu gbogboawo ta, nu siwo nye alɔ wɔ dɔ kpɔ,
If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
26 nenye ɖe mede bubu ɣe ŋuti le ale si wòle keklẽm alo ɣleti le ale si wòle yiyim kple atsyɔ̃,
If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,
27 ale be woflu nye dzi le adzame eye metsɔ nye asi wɔ dzesi na wo be melɔ̃ wo, de bubu wo ŋu la,
A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;
28 ekema esiawo hã anye nu vɔ̃ siwo wòle be woahe ayi ʋɔnu, elabena adze ƒãa be nyemeto nyateƒe na Mawu le dziƒo o.
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
29 “Nenye ɖe mekpɔ dzidzɔ le nye futɔ ƒe dzɔgbevɔ̃e me dzedze ŋu alo dzɔ dzi le hiã siwo tui ta la, eya ko magblɔ nya aɖe.
If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;
30 Gake nyemeɖe mɔ na nye nu be wòawɔ nu vɔ̃ to ɖiŋudodo na eƒe agbe me o.
(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )
31 Nenye ɖe ame siwo le aƒenye me la se megblɔ kpɔ be, ‘Ame kae meɖu Hiob ƒe abolo ɖi ƒo kpɔ o?’ la, anye ne enye nya bubu
If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?
32 elabena mele na amedzro aɖeke be wòatsi mɔto adɔ o elabena nye ʋɔtru le ʋuʋu ɖi ɣe sia ɣi na mɔzɔlawo.
The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;
33 Nenye ɖe meɣla nye nu vɔ̃ abe ale si amewo wɔna ene, be meɣla nye dzidada ɖe nye dzi me,
If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,
34 elabena mevɔ̃ na ameha la ŋutɔ eye mevɔ̃ na dukɔ la ƒe vlododo ale gbegbe be, mezi ɖoɖoe hegbe gododo ɖe gota la, anye ne enye nya bubu kura.
For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;
35 “O, ɖe ame aɖe le asinye aɖo tom ɖe! Kpɔ ɖa mede asi ɖokuinyetaʋlinyawo te, azɔ la, Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la neɖo eŋu nam, ame si le nunye tsom la hã neŋlɔ nunyetsonyawo ɖe agbalẽ dzi.
If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!
36 Vavã malée ɖe nye abɔta eye maɖɔe ɖe ta abe fiakuku ene.
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
37 Mana nutsotsoe tso nye afɔɖeɖe ɖe sia ɖe ŋuti eye mate ɖe eŋu abe fiavi ene.
I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
38 “Nenye ɖe nye anyigba fa avi ɖe ŋutinye eye eƒe boliƒowo yɔ kple aɖatsi,
If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
39 nenye be meɖu eƒe kutsetsewo femaxee alo mena dɔwɔla siwo le agblea dzi la ƒe gbɔgbɔ gbã gudugudugudu la,
If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
40 ekema aŋɔkawo nemie nam ɖe lu teƒe eye gbe wuwluiwo nemie ɖe ƒo teƒe.” Esiae nye Hiob ƒe nyawo ƒe nuwuwu.
Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
