Hiob 22
1 Na Temanni Elifas buae se,
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 “Onyankopɔn benya onipa so mfaso ana? Mpo onyansafo so bɛba no mfaso ana?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Sɛ woyɛ ɔtreneeni a, anigye bɛn na Otumfo no benya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfaso bɛn na obenya?
For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4 “Wo kronkronyɛ nti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu ana?
Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
5 Ɛnyɛ wʼamumɔyɛ na ɛso? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6 Wopɛɛ bammɔ fii wo nuanom nkyɛn a emfi hwee so; wopaa nnipa ho ntama ma wɔdaa adagyaw.
And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 Woamma abrɛfo nsu annom na wode aduan kamee nea ɔkɔm de no,
Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, wɔ nsase, onuonyamfo a ɔte so.
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 Wopam akunafo ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa ayisaa nso ahoɔden sae.
But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Ɛno nti na mfiri atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so bɔ wo hu yi,
Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11 ɛno nti na sum kabii aduru a wunhu ade, na asorɔkye akata wo so yi.
The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12 “So Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri ana? Hwɛ sɛnea ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Nanso woka se, ‘Dɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Sum yi mu na obu atɛn ana?
And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim nti onhu yɛn bere a ɔnenam ɔsoro kontonkurowi mu.’
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 So wobɛkɔ so afa ɔkwan dedaw a abɔnefo anantew so no so ana?
Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 Wɔpraa wɔn kɔe ansa na wɔn bere reso, na nsuyiri hohoroo wɔn fapem.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Dɛn na Otumfo betumi ayɛ yɛn?’
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 Nanso ɛyɛ ɔno na ɔde nnepa hyɛɛ wɔn afi mu, nti metwe me ho fi amumɔyɛfo afotu ho.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 Atreneefo hu wɔn asehwe ma wɔn ani gye; na wɔn a wɔn ho nni asɛm serew wɔn ka se,
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 ‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfo, na ogya ahyew wɔn agyapade.’
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 “Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoe wɔ ne mu; saa ɔkwan yi so na yiyedi bɛfa ayɛ wo kyɛfa.
Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22 Tie akwankyerɛ a efi nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wo koma mu.
And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Sɛ wosan kɔ Otumfo no nkyɛn a obegye wo ato mu bio: sɛ wuyi amumɔyɛsɛm fi wo ntamadan mu
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24 na wotow wo sika mpɔw gu mfutuma mu ne Ofir sikakɔkɔɔ gu abotan a ɛwɔ abon mu no so a,
You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 ɛno de Otumfo bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ ankasa ama wo.
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Afei nokware wubenya anigye wɔ Otumfo mu na wobɛpagyaw wʼani akyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 Wobɛbɔ no mpae, na obetie wo, na wubedi wo bɔhyɛ so.
And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
28 Nea woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29 Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka se, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, obegye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 Obegye abɔnefo mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so begye wɔn.”
He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
