Hiob 31

1 “Me ne mʼani yɛɛ apam sɛ meremfiri akɔnnɔ mu nhwɛ ababaawa.

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

2 Ɛdeɛn ne onipa kyɛfa a ɛfiri ɔsoro Onyankopɔn nkyɛn? Ɛdeɛn ne nʼagyapadeɛ a ɛfiri ɔsoro Otumfoɔ no nkyɛn?

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

3 Ɛnyɛ ɔsɛeɛ mma amumuyɛfoɔ? Ɛnyɛ asiane mma wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne?

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

4 Ɔnhunu mʼakwan na ɔnkan anammɔn biara a metuo anaa?

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

5 “Sɛ manante 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 ɔbɛhunu sɛ me ho nni asɛm.

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

7 Sɛ mʼanammɔntuo afom ɛkwan, sɛ mʼakoma 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 ɛnneɛ ma afoforɔ nni deɛ madua, na ma wɔntutu me mfudeɛ ngu.

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

9 “Sɛ ɔbaa bi atɔ mʼakoma so, anaasɛ matɛ me yɔnko bi ɛpono akyi a,

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

10 ɛnneɛ, me yere nyam ɔbarima foforɔ aduane, na mmarima afoforɔ ne no nna.

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

12 Ɛyɛ ogya a ɛhye kɔduru ɔsɛeɛ mu na ɛbɛtumi atutu mʼagyapadeɛ nyinaa ase.

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

13 “Sɛ mabu mʼasomfoɔ mmarima ne mmaa ntɛnkyea ɛberɛ a wɔ ne me nyaa asɛm,

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

14 na sɛ Onyankopɔn de si mʼanim a, ɛdeɛn na mɛyɛ? Sɛ wɔfrɛ me akontabuo a, mmuaeɛ bɛn na mɛma?

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

16 “Ohiani bi wɔ hɔ a ɔhia mmoa a mammoa no? Anaa mabu akunafoɔ bi abasa mu?

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

17 Mabɔ mʼaduane ho atirimuɔden a mamma nwisiaa bi?

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

18 Dabi, ɛfiri me mmeranteberɛ mu, matete wɔn sɛdeɛ agya bɛyɛ, na me nkwa nna nyinaa mu, mahwɛ akunafoɔ.

(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 mahunu obi a ɔnni aduradeɛ na ɔrebrɛ, anaa ohiani bi a ɔnni atadeɛ,

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

20 na sɛ wamfiri akoma mu anhyira me wɔ ɛberɛ a mede me nnwan ho nwi kaa no hye,

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 awisiaa bi, ɛsiane sɛ mewɔ tumi wɔ asɛnniiɛ enti a,

If I have shaken my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate, —

22 ɛnneɛ ma mʼabasa mpan mfiri mʼabatiri, ma ɛmmubu mfiri ne pɔ so.

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

23 Mesuroo ɔsɛeɛ a ɛfiri Onyankopɔn nkyɛn, na nʼanimuonyam ho suro enti mantumi anyɛ saa nneɛma yi.

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 amapa sɛ, ‘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 masɛpɛ me ho wɔ mʼahodeɛ bebrebe enti, ahodeɛ a me nsa aka yi,

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

26 sɛ mahwɛ owia a ɛhyerɛn anaa ɔsrane a ɛnam animuonyam mu,

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

27 ama aka mʼakoma a obiara nnim na me nsa yɛɛ wɔn atuu de anidie maa wɔn a,

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

28 ɛnneɛ na yeinom nso bɛyɛ bɔne a wɔbu ho atɛn, ɛfiri sɛ na manni Onyankopɔn a ɔte ɔsoro no nokorɛ.

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

29 “Mʼani nnyee wɔ me ɔtamfoɔ amanehunu ho anaa menseree no wɔ ɔhaw a aba ne so.

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 obi nkwa.

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

31 Mʼasomfoɔ a wɔwɔ me fidua mu nkaa da sɛ, ‘Ɔma ɛkɔm de yɛn.’

If the men of my tent have not exclaimed, “Who is there that hath not been satisfied with his meat?”

32 Ɔhɔhoɔ biara anna abɔntene so da, ɛfiri sɛ me ɛpono ano daa hɔ da biara maa akwantufoɔ,

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

33 Makata me bɔne so sɛdeɛ nnipa yɛ de mʼafɔdie ahyɛ mʼakoma mu?

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

34 Suro a mesuro nnipadɔm ne ahohora a ɛfiri mmusua hɔ no enti meyɛɛ komm a mamfiri 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 ɔbɛtie me. Mede me din ahyɛ mʼanoyie ase, ma Otumfoɔ no mmua me; ma deɛ ɔbɔ me kwaadu no ntwerɛ ne soboɔbɔ.

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, anka mede bɛhyɛ mʼabatiri, anka mede bɛhyɛ sɛ ahenkyɛ.

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

37 Anka mɛbu mʼanammɔntuo biara ho akonta akyerɛ no; anka mɛkɔ nʼanim sɛ ɔheneba.)

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

38 “Sɛ mʼasase team tia me na nisuo fɔ nʼakofie nyinaa,

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

39 sɛ madi so aba a mentuaa ka anaasɛ mabu ɛso apaafoɔ no abamu a,

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

40 ma nkasɛɛ mfifiri nsi ayuo anan mu na wira mfu nsi atokoɔ 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.