Hiob 31
1 “Me ne mʼani yɛɛ apam sɛ meremfiri akɔnnɔ mu nhwɛ ababaawa.
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 Ɛdeɛn ne onipa kyɛfa a ɛfiri ɔsoro Onyankopɔn nkyɛn? Ɛdeɛn ne nʼagyapadeɛ a ɛfiri ɔsoro Otumfoɔ no nkyɛn?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Ɛnyɛ ɔsɛeɛ mma amumuyɛfoɔ? Ɛnyɛ asiane mma wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Ɔnhunu mʼakwan na ɔnkan anammɔn biara a metuo anaa?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 “Sɛ manante 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 ɔbɛhunu sɛ me ho nni asɛm.
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 Sɛ mʼanammɔntuo afom ɛkwan, sɛ mʼakoma 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 ɛnneɛ ma afoforɔ nni deɛ madua, na ma wɔntutu me mfudeɛ ngu.
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 “Sɛ ɔbaa bi atɔ mʼakoma so, anaasɛ matɛ me yɔnko bi ɛpono akyi a,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 ɛnneɛ, me yere nyam ɔbarima foforɔ aduane, na mmarima afoforɔ ne no nna.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Ɛfiri sɛ, 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 ɛhye kɔduru ɔsɛeɛ mu na ɛbɛtumi atutu mʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa ase.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 “Sɛ mabu mʼasomfoɔ mmarima ne mmaa ntɛnkyea ɛberɛ a wɔ ne me nyaa asɛm,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 na sɛ Onyankopɔn de si mʼanim a, ɛdeɛn na mɛyɛ? Sɛ wɔfrɛ me akontabuo a, mmuaeɛ 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 deɛ ɔbɔɔ me wɔ yafunu mu no na ɔbɔɔ wɔn? Ɛnyɛ onipa korɔ no na ɔbɔɔ yɛn nyinaa wɔ yɛn maamenom 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 “Ohiani bi wɔ hɔ a ɔhia mmoa a mammoa no? Anaa mabu akunafoɔ bi abasa mu?
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 Mabɔ mʼaduane ho atirimuɔden a mamma nwisiaa bi?
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 Dabi, ɛfiri me mmeranteberɛ mu, matete wɔn sɛdeɛ agya bɛyɛ, na me nkwa nna nyinaa mu, mahwɛ akunafoɔ.
(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
19 Sɛ mahunu obi a ɔnni aduradeɛ na ɔrebrɛ, anaa ohiani bi a ɔnni atadeɛ,
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 na sɛ wamfiri akoma mu anhyira me wɔ ɛberɛ a mede me nnwan ho nwi kaa no hye,
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 awisiaa bi, ɛsiane sɛ mewɔ tumi wɔ asɛnniiɛ enti a,
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 ɛnneɛ ma mʼabasa mpan mfiri mʼabatiri, ma ɛmmubu mfiri ne pɔ so.
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Mesuroo ɔsɛeɛ a ɛfiri Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na nʼanimuonyam ho suro enti mantumi anyɛ saa nneɛma yi.
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 amapa sɛ, ‘Wo na wobɔ me ho ban,’
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 sɛ masɛpɛ me ho wɔ mʼahodeɛ bebrebe enti, ahodeɛ a me nsa aka yi,
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 sɛ mahwɛ owia a ɛhyerɛn anaa ɔsrane a ɛnam animuonyam mu,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 ama aka mʼakoma a obiara nnim na me nsa yɛɛ wɔn atuu de anidie maa wɔn a,
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 ɛnneɛ na yeinom nso bɛyɛ bɔne a wɔbu ho atɛn, ɛfiri sɛ na manni Onyankopɔn a ɔte ɔsoro no nokorɛ.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 “Mʼani nnyee wɔ me ɔtamfoɔ amanehunu ho anaa menseree no wɔ ɔhaw a aba ne so.
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 obi nkwa.
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 Mʼasomfoɔ a wɔwɔ me fidua mu nkaa da sɛ, ‘Ɔma ɛkɔm de yɛn.’
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 Ɔhɔhoɔ biara anna abɔntene so da, ɛfiri sɛ me ɛpono ano daa hɔ da biara maa akwantufoɔ,
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 Makata me bɔne so sɛdeɛ nnipa yɛ de mʼafɔdie ahyɛ mʼakoma mu?
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 Suro a mesuro nnipadɔm ne ahohora a ɛfiri mmusua hɔ no enti meyɛɛ komm a mamfiri 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 ɔbɛtie me. Mede me din ahyɛ mʼanoyie ase, ma Otumfoɔ no mmua me; ma deɛ ɔbɔ me kwaadu no ntwerɛ ne soboɔbɔ.
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, anka mede bɛhyɛ mʼabatiri, anka mede bɛhyɛ sɛ ahenkyɛ.
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 Anka mɛbu mʼanammɔntuo biara ho akonta akyerɛ no; anka mɛkɔ nʼanim sɛ ɔheneba.)
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 “Sɛ mʼasase team tia me na nisuo fɔ nʼakofie nyinaa,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 sɛ madi so aba a mentuaa ka anaasɛ mabu ɛso apaafoɔ no abamu a,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 ma nkasɛɛ mfifiri nsi ayuo anan mu na wira mfu nsi atokoɔ anan mu.” Hiob nsɛm no asi.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
