Hiob 31
1 “Me ne mʼani yɛɛ apam sɛ meremfi akɔnnɔ mu, nhwɛ ababaa.
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 Dɛn ne onipa kyɛfa a efi ɔsoro Nyankopɔn nkyɛn? Dɛn ne nʼagyapade a efi ɔsoro Tumfo no nkyɛn?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Ɛnyɛ ɔsɛe mma amumɔyɛfo, atoyerɛnkyɛm mma wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne ana?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Onhu mʼakwan na ɔnkan anammɔn biara a mitu ana?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 “Sɛ manantew wɔ nkontompo mu anaasɛ matu mmirika adi nnaadaasɛm akyi a,
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
6 ma Onyankopɔn nkari me wɔ nsania papa so na obehu sɛ me ho nni asɛm;
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 sɛ mʼanammɔntu afom ɔkwan, sɛ me koma adi mʼani akyi, anaasɛ me nsa ho agu fi a
If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 ɛno de ma afoforo nni nea madua, na ma wontutu me nnɔbae ngu.
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 “Sɛ ɔbea bi atɔ me koma so, anaasɛ matɛw me yɔnko bi pon akyi a,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 ɛno de, me yere nyam ɔbarima foforo aduan, na mmarima afoforo ne no nna.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Efisɛ anka ɛno na ɛbɛyɛ aniwusɛm ne bɔne a ɛsɛ sɛ wɔtwe aso wɔ so.
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 Ɛyɛ ogya a ɛhyew kodu Ɔsɛe mu; na ebetumi atutu me nnɔbae ase.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 “Sɛ mabu mʼasomfo mmarima ne mmea ntɛnkyew, bere a wɔne me nyaa asɛm,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 sɛ Onyankopɔn de si mʼanim a dɛn na mɛyɛ? Sɛ wɔfrɛ me akontaabu a, mmuae bɛn na mɛma?
For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
15 Ɛnyɛ nea ɔbɔɔ me wɔ ɔyafunu mu no na ɔbɔɔ wɔn? Ɛnyɛ onipa koro no na ɔyɛɛ yɛn baanu wɔ yɛn nanom yafunu mu?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 “Sɛ mamma ahiafo nea wɔn koma pɛ anaa mama akunafo ani ayɛ wɔn yaw,
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 sɛ mabɔ mʼaduan ho atirimɔden a mamma ayisaa bi,
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 nanso efi mmerantebere mu matetew no sɛnea agya bɛyɛ, na efi ɔyafunu mu, mahwɛ akunafo.
(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
19 Sɛ mahu obi a onni adurade na ɔrebrɛ, anaa ohiani bi a onni atade,
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 na sɛ wɔamfi koma mu anhyira me sɛ mede me nguan ho nwi kaa wɔn hyew,
If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep:
21 sɛ mama me nsa so atia ayisaa bi, esiane sɛ mewɔ tumi wɔ asennii nti a,
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 ɛno de, ma me basa mpan mfi me mmati, ma emmubu mfi nʼapɔw so.
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Misuroo ɔsɛe a efi Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na nʼanuonyam ho suro nti mantumi anyɛ saa nneyɛe no.
For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
24 “Sɛ mede me werɛ ahyɛ sikakɔkɔɔ mu anaasɛ maka akyerɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa se, ‘Wo na wobɔ me ho ban,’
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 sɛ masɛpɛw me ho wɔ mʼahode bebrebe nti, ahode a me nsa aka yi,
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 sɛ mahwɛ owia ne ne hyerɛn anaa ɔsram a ɔnam anuonyam mu,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 ama aka me koma a obiara nnim na me nsa yɛɛ wɔn atuu de nidi maa wɔn a,
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 ɛno de, na eyinom nso bɛyɛ bɔne a wobu ho atɛn, efisɛ na manni Onyankopɔn a ɔte ɔsoro no nokware.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 “Sɛ mʼani gyee wɔ me tamfo amanehunu nti anaa mesrew no wɔ ɔhaw a aba ne so nti,
If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 memmaa mʼano nyɛɛ bɔne sɛ mɛdome ne nkwa,
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 sɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ me fi mu nkaa da sɛ, ‘Hena na Hiob pon so nam mmee no da?’
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 Ɔhɔho biara anna abɔnten so da, efisɛ me pon ano daa hɔ da biara maa akwantufo,
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 Makata me bɔne so sɛnea nnipa yɛ de mʼafɔdi ahyɛ me koma mu
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 esiane sɛ misuroo nnipadɔm ne ahohora a efi mmusua hɔ no nti na meyɛɛ komm a mamfi adi.
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
35 (“Ao, sɛ anka mewɔ obi a obetie me. Mede me din ahyɛ mʼanoyi ase, ma Otumfo no mmua me; ma nea ɔbɔ me kwaadu no nkyerɛw ne sobobɔ.
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 Ampa ara, mɛhyɛ wɔ me mmati, mɛhyɛ sɛ ahenkyɛw.
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 Mebu mʼanammɔntu biara ho akontaa akyerɛ no; mɛkɔ nʼanim sɛ ɔheneba.)
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 “Sɛ mʼasase teɛ mu tia me na nusu fɔw ne nkɔ nyinaa,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 sɛ madi so aba a mintuaa ka anaasɛ mabu so apaafo no aba mu a,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 ma nsɔe mfifi nsi awi anan mu na wura mfuw nsi atoko anan mu.” Hiob nsɛm no asi.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
