Hiob 22
1 Na Temanni Elifas buae se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Onyankopɔn benya onipa so mfaso ana? Mpo onyansafo so bɛba no mfaso ana?
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
3 Sɛ woyɛ ɔtreneeni a, anigye bɛn na Otumfo no benya? Sɛ wʼakwan ho nni asɛm a, mfaso bɛn na obenya?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 “Wo kronkronyɛ nti na ɔka wʼanim na ɔbɔ wo kwaadu ana?
Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Ɛnyɛ wʼamumɔyɛ na ɛso? Ɛnyɛ wo bɔne na ɛdɔɔso dodo?
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
6 Wopɛɛ bammɔ fii wo nuanom nkyɛn a emfi hwee so; wopaa nnipa ho ntama ma wɔdaa adagyaw.
For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Woamma abrɛfo nsu annom na wode aduan kamee nea ɔkɔm de no,
You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 nanso na woyɛ obi a ɔwɔ tumi, wɔ nsase, onuonyamfo a ɔte so.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
9 Wopam akunafo ma wɔkɔɔ nsapan na womaa ayisaa nso ahoɔden sae.
You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Ɛno nti na mfiri atwa wo ho ahyia, na amanehunu a ɛba ntɛm so bɔ wo hu yi,
Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
11 ɛno nti na sum kabii aduru a wunhu ade, na asorɔkye akata wo so yi.
Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
12 “So Onyankopɔn nni ɔsoro akyirikyiri ana? Hwɛ sɛnea ɔsoro akyirikyiri nsoromma korɔn!
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Nanso woka se, ‘Dɛn na Onyankopɔn nim? Sum yi mu na obu atɛn ana?
And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
14 Omununkum kabii akata nʼanim nti onhu yɛn bere a ɔnenam ɔsoro kontonkurowi mu.’
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 So wobɛkɔ so afa ɔkwan dedaw a abɔnefo anantew so no so ana?
Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Wɔpraa wɔn kɔe ansa na wɔn bere reso, na nsuyiri hohoroo wɔn fapem.
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
17 Na wɔka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, ‘Gyaa yɛn! Dɛn na Otumfo betumi ayɛ yɛn?’
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
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 of the wicked 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 righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Wɔasɛe yɛn atamfo, na ogya ahyew wɔn agyapade.’
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 “Fa wo ho ma Onyankopɔn na nya asomdwoe wɔ ne mu; saa ɔkwan yi so na yiyedi bɛfa ayɛ wo kyɛfa.
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
22 Tie akwankyerɛ a efi nʼanom, na fa ne nsɛm sie wo koma mu.
Receive, I pray you, the law 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
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 na wotow wo sika mpɔw gu mfutuma mu ne Ofir sikakɔkɔɔ gu abotan a ɛwɔ abon mu no so a,
Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 ɛno de Otumfo bɛyɛ wo sikakɔkɔɔ ɔbɛyɛ dwetɛ ankasa ama wo.
Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 Afei nokware wubenya anigye wɔ Otumfo mu na wobɛpagyaw wʼani akyerɛ Onyankopɔn.
For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.
27 Wobɛbɔ no mpae, na obetie wo, na wubedi wo bɔhyɛ so.
You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 Nea woyɛ wʼadwene sɛ wobɛyɛ no bɛba mu, na hann bɛtɔ wʼakwan so.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.
29 Sɛ nnipa hwe ase na woka se, ‘Ma wɔn so!’ a, obegye wɔn a wɔahwe ase no nkwa.
When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 Obegye abɔnefo mpo, ɔnam wo nsa a ɛho nni fi so begye wɔn.”
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
