Hiob 31

1 “Me ne mʼani yɛɛ apam sɛ meremfi akɔnnɔ mu, nhwɛ ababaa.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then could I gaze upon a maid?

2 Dɛn ne onipa kyɛfa a efi ɔsoro Nyankopɔn nkyɛn? Dɛn ne nʼagyapade a efi ɔsoro Tumfo no nkyɛn?

For what is the portion appointed by God from above, And the inheritance allotted by the Almighty from on high?

3 Ɛnyɛ ɔsɛe mma amumɔyɛfo, atoyerɛnkyɛm mma wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne ana?

Is not destruction for the wicked, And ruin for the workers of iniquity?

4 Onhu mʼakwan na ɔnkan anammɔn biara a mitu ana?

Doth He not see my ways, And number all my steps?

5 “Sɛ manantew wɔ nkontompo mu anaasɛ matu mmirika adi nnaadaasɛm akyi a,

If I have walked with falsehood, And if my foot hath hasted to deceit,

6 ma Onyankopɔn nkari me wɔ nsania papa so na obehu sɛ me ho nni asɛm;

Let him weigh me in an even balance; Yea, let God know my integrity!

7 sɛ mʼanammɔntu afom ɔkwan, sɛ me koma adi mʼani akyi, anaasɛ me nsa ho agu fi a

If my steps have turned aside from the way, And my heart gone after mine eyes, Or if any stain hath cleaved to my hand,

8 ɛno de ma afoforo nni nea madua, na ma wontutu me nnɔbae ngu.

Then I may sow, and another eat; And what I plant, may it be rooted up!

9 “Sɛ ɔbea bi atɔ me koma so, anaasɛ matɛw me yɔnko bi pon akyi a,

If my heart hath been enticed by a woman, Or if I have watched at my neighbor's door,

10 ɛno de, me yere nyam ɔbarima foforo aduan, na mmarima afoforo ne no nna.

Then let my wife grind for 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 were a heinous crime, Even a transgression to be punished by the judges;

12 Ɛyɛ ogya a ɛhyew kodu Ɔsɛe mu; na ebetumi atutu me nnɔbae ase.

Yea, it were a fire that would consume to destruction, And root out all my increase.

13 “Sɛ mabu mʼasomfo mmarima ne mmea ntɛnkyew, bere a wɔne me nyaa asɛm,

If I have refused justice to my man-servant or maid-servant, When they had a controversy with me,

14 sɛ Onyankopɔn de si mʼanim a dɛn na mɛyɛ? Sɛ wɔfrɛ me akontaabu a, mmuae bɛn na mɛma?

Then what shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, 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? Did not one fashion us in the womb?

16 “Sɛ mamma ahiafo nea wɔn koma pɛ anaa mama akunafo ani ayɛ wɔn yaw,

If I have refused the poor their desire, And caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

17 sɛ mabɔ mʼaduan ho atirimɔden a mamma ayisaa bi,

If I have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not partaken of it;

18 nanso efi mmerantebere mu matetew no sɛnea agya bɛyɛ, na efi ɔyafunu mu, mahwɛ akunafo.

(Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And I have helped the widow from my mother's womb; )

19 Sɛ mahu obi a onni adurade na ɔrebrɛ, anaa ohiani bi a onni atade,

If I have seen any one perishing for want of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

20 na sɛ wɔamfi koma mu anhyira me sɛ mede me nguan ho nwi kaa wɔn hyew,

If his loins have not blessed me, And he hath not been 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 shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

22 ɛno de, ma me basa mpan mfi me mmati, ma emmubu mfi nʼapɔw so.

Then may my shoulder fill from its blade, And my fore-arm be broken from its bone!

23 Misuroo ɔsɛe a efi Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na nʼanuonyam ho suro nti mantumi anyɛ saa nneyɛe no.

For destruction from God was a terror to me, And before his majesty I could do nothing.

24 “Sɛ mede me werɛ ahyɛ sikakɔkɔɔ mu anaasɛ maka akyerɛ sikakɔkɔɔ ankasa se, ‘Wo na wobɔ me ho ban,’

If I have made gold my trust, Or said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

25 sɛ masɛpɛw me ho wɔ mʼahode bebrebe nti, ahode a me nsa aka yi,

If I have rejoiced, because my wealth was great, And my hand had found abundance;

26 sɛ mahwɛ owia ne ne hyerɛn anaa ɔsram a ɔnam anuonyam mu,

If I have beheld the sun in his splendor, Or the moon advancing in brightness,

27 ama aka me koma a obiara nnim na me nsa yɛɛ wɔn atuu de nidi maa wɔn a,

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand,

28 ɛno de, na eyinom nso bɛyɛ bɔne a wobu ho atɛn, efisɛ na manni Onyankopɔn a ɔte ɔsoro no nokware.

This also were a crime to be punished by the judge; For I should have denied the God who is above.

29 “Sɛ mʼani gyee wɔ me tamfo amanehunu nti anaa mesrew no wɔ ɔhaw a aba ne so nti,

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, And exulted when evil came upon him;

30 memmaa mʼano nyɛɛ bɔne sɛ mɛdome ne nkwa,

(Nay, I have not suffered my mouth to sin, By asking with curses his life; )

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 tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

32 Ɔhɔho biara anna abɔnten so da, efisɛ me pon ano daa hɔ da biara maa akwantufo,

The stranger did not lodge in the street; I opened my doors to the traveller.

33 Makata me bɔne so sɛnea nnipa yɛ de mʼafɔdi ahyɛ me koma mu

Have I, after the manner of men, hidden my transgression, Concealing my iniquity in my bosom,

34 esiane sɛ misuroo nnipadɔm ne ahohora a efi mmusua hɔ no nti na meyɛɛ komm a mamfi adi.

Then let me be confounded before the great multitude! Let the contempt of families cover me with shame! Yea, let me keep silence! let me never appear abroad!

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.

O that there were one who would hear me! Behold my signature! let the Almighty answer me. And let mine adversary write down his charge!

36 Ampa ara, mɛhyɛ wɔ me mmati, mɛhyɛ sɛ ahenkyɛw.

Truly I would wear it upon my shoulder; I would bind it upon me as a crown.

37 Mebu mʼanammɔntu biara ho akontaa akyerɛ no; mɛkɔ nʼanim sɛ ɔheneba.)

I would disclose to him all my steps; I would approach him like a prince.

38 “Sɛ mʼasase teɛ mu tia me na nusu fɔw ne nkɔ nyinaa,

If my land cry out against me, And its furrows bewail together;

39 sɛ madi so aba a mintuaa ka anaasɛ mabu so apaafo no aba mu a,

If I have eaten of its fruits without payment, And wrung out the life of its owners,

40 ma nsɔe mfifi nsi awi anan mu na wura mfuw nsi atoko anan mu.” Hiob nsɛm no asi.

Let thorns grow up instead of wheat, And noxious weeds instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.