< Job 4 >

1 But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,
2 If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
“Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboaseɛ mma no anaa? Hwan na wɔbɛtumi aka nʼano ato mu?
3 Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.
4 Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.
5 But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.
6 Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?
Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?
7 Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
“Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn anaa? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
8 In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.
9 perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.
11 The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
Gyata annya haboa a ɔwu, na gyatabereɛ mma no bɔ hwete.
12 Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
“Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.
13 In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
14 fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.
15 And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.
16 There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,
17 Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?
‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?
18 Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfoɔ so, na sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfoɔ mpo anim a,
19 How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like the moth?
hwan ne onipa a wɔde dɔteɛ anwene no, a ne fapem sisi mfuturo mu na wɔdwerɛ no ntɛm so sene abubummabaa?
20 From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
Ɛfiri anɔpahema kɔsi anwummerɛ wɔbubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhunu wɔn bio.
21 But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.
Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’

< Job 4 >