Hiob 22
1 Na Temanni Elifas buae se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
2 “Onyankopɔn benya onipa so mfaso ana? Mpo onyansafo so bɛba no mfaso ana?
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 Sɛ woyɛ ɔtreneeni a, anigye bɛn na Otumfo no benya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfaso bɛn na obenya?
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 “Wo kronkronyɛ nti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu ana?
Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
5 Ɛnyɛ wʼamumɔyɛ na ɛso? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
6 Wopɛɛ bammɔ fii wo nuanom nkyɛn a emfi hwee so; wopaa nnipa ho ntama ma wɔdaa adagyaw.
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 Woamma abrɛfo nsu annom na wode aduan kamee nea ɔkɔm de no,
You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
8 nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, wɔ nsase, onuonyamfo a ɔte so.
For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
9 Wopam akunafo ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa ayisaa nso ahoɔden sae.
You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
10 Ɛno nti na mfiri atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so bɔ wo hu yi,
For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
11 ɛno nti na sum kabii aduru a wunhu ade, na asorɔkye akata wo so yi.
Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
12 “So Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri ana? Hwɛ sɛnea ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
13 Nanso woka se, ‘Dɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Sum yi mu na obu atɛn ana?
And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
14 Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim nti onhu yɛn bere a ɔnenam ɔsoro kontonkurowi mu.’
Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
15 So wobɛkɔ so afa ɔkwan dedaw a abɔnefo anantew so no so ana?
Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
16 Wɔpraa wɔn kɔe ansa na wɔn bere reso, na nsuyiri hohoroo wɔn fapem.
Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
17 Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Dɛn na Otumfo betumi ayɛ yɛn?’
Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
18 Nanso ɛyɛ ɔno na ɔde nnepa hyɛɛ wɔn afi mu, nti metwe me ho fi amumɔyɛfo afotu ho.
Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
19 Atreneefo hu wɔn asehwe ma wɔn ani gye; na wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm serew wɔn ka se,
The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
20 ‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfo, na ogya ahyew wɔn agyapade.’
Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
21 “Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoe wɔ ne mu; saa ɔkwan yi so na yiyedi bɛfa ayɛ wo kyɛfa.
Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
22 Tie akwankyerɛ a efi nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wo koma mu.
Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
23 Sɛ wosan kɔ Otumfo no nkyɛn a obegye wo ato mu bio: sɛ wuyi amumɔyɛsɛm fi wo ntamadan mu
If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
24 na wotow wo sika mpɔw gu mfutuma mu ne Ofir sikakɔkɔɔ gu abotan a ɛwɔ abon mu no so a,
And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
25 ɛno de Otumfo bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ ankasa ama wo.
Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
26 Afei nokware wubenya anigye wɔ Otumfo mu na wobɛpagyaw wʼani akyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
27 Wobɛbɔ no mpae, na obetie wo, na wubedi wo bɔhyɛ so.
You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
28 Nea woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
29 Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka se, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, obegye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
30 Obegye abɔnefo mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so begye wɔn.”
He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
