Job 4
1 But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
Tete Temanitɔ Elifaz ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
2 If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
“Ne ame aɖe te kpɔ be yeaƒo nu kpli wò la, ɖe nàgbɔ dzi ɖi aseea? Ke ame kae ate ŋu azi ɖoɖoe le nu sia ŋuti?
3 Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
Bu ale si nèfia nu ame geɖewo kple ale si nèdo ŋusẽ asi beliwoe ŋuti.
4 Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
Wò nyawo lé ame siwo yina anyi dze ge la ɖe te eye nèdo ŋusẽ klo beliwo.
5 But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
Ke azɔ la, dzɔgbevɔ̃e va dziwò, eye dzi ɖe le ƒo wò; eƒo wò ƒu anyi eye nèse veve.
6 Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?
Ɖe wò Mawuvɔvɔ̃ manye wò dzideƒo eye wò blibodede nanye wò mɔkpɔkpɔ oa?
7 Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
“Azɔ bu eŋuti kpɔ. Ame maɖifɔ ka wohe to na kpɔ? Afi ka wogblẽ ame dzɔdzɔe dome le kpɔ?
8 In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
Abe ale si mede dzesii ene la, ame siwo ŋlɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ƒe agble eye woƒã dzɔgbevɔ̃e lae ŋenɛ.
9 perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
Ne Mawu gbɔ ɖe wo dzi la woyrɔna eye ne eƒe dziku fla la wotsrɔ̃na.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
Dzatawo aɖe gbe, axlɔ̃ sesĩe gake woate ŋu aŋe aɖu na dzataviwo.
11 The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
Dzata kuna ne mekpɔ nu lé o eye dzatanɔwo kakana.
12 Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
“Wotsɔ nya aɖe vɛ nam le adzame, nye towo see wotsɔe do dalĩ nam.
13 In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
Le drɔ̃ewo me le zã me, esi amewo dɔ alɔ̃ yi eme ʋĩi la,
14 fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
vɔvɔ̃ kple dzodzo nyanyanya lém eye wona nye ƒuwo katã dzo kpekpekpe.
15 And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
Gbɔgbɔ aɖe ɖo asagba va to nye ŋkume yi eye ɖadoe ɖo to ɖe ŋunye.
16 There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
Etɔ gake nyemate ŋu agblɔ nu si wònye o. Nɔnɔme aɖe va tsi tsitre ɖe ŋkunye me eye mese gbe bɔlɔe aɖe be,
17 Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?
‘Ɖe ame kodzogbea anɔ dzɔdzɔe wu Mawua? Ɖe amegbetɔ anɔ dzadzɛe wu eƒe Wɔlaa?
18 Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
Ne Mawu meka ɖe eƒe dɔlawo dzi o eye wòbua fɔ eƒe dɔlawo be woda vo,
19 How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like the moth?
ʋuu keke, ke wòahanye ame siwo le anyixɔwo me, ame siwo gɔme woɖo anyi ɖe ke me eye wogbãa wo bɔbɔe abe ŋɔvi ene!
20 From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
Wogbãa wo gudugudu le fɔŋli kple zã dome, ame aɖeke menyana gɔ̃ hã o, ale wotsrɔ̃na gbidii.
21 But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.
Ɖe womehoa woƒe agbadɔkawo, ale be woaku numanyamanyae oa?’”
