Job 4
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Tete Temanitɔ Elifaz ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
2 If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
“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, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Bu ale si nèfia nu ame geɖewo kple ale si nèdo ŋusẽ asi beliwoe ŋuti.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Wò nyawo lé ame siwo yina anyi dze ge la ɖe te eye nèdo ŋusẽ klo beliwo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
Ke azɔ la, dzɔgbevɔ̃e va dziwò, eye dzi ɖe le ƒo wò; eƒo wò ƒu anyi eye nèse veve.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
Ɖe wò Mawuvɔvɔ̃ manye wò dzideƒo eye wò blibodede nanye wò mɔkpɔkpɔ oa?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
“Azɔ bu eŋuti kpɔ. Ame maɖifɔ ka wohe to na kpɔ? Afi ka wogblẽ ame dzɔdzɔe dome le kpɔ?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.
Abe ale si mede dzesii ene la, ame siwo ŋlɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ƒe agble eye woƒã dzɔgbevɔ̃e lae ŋenɛ.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
Ne Mawu gbɔ ɖe wo dzi la woyrɔna eye ne eƒe dziku fla la wotsrɔ̃na.
10 The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
Dzatawo aɖe gbe, axlɔ̃ sesĩe gake woate ŋu aŋe aɖu na dzataviwo.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Dzata kuna ne mekpɔ nu lé o eye dzatanɔwo kakana.
12 Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
“Wotsɔ nya aɖe vɛ nam le adzame, nye towo see wotsɔe do dalĩ nam.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Le drɔ̃ewo me le zã me, esi amewo dɔ alɔ̃ yi eme ʋĩi la,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
vɔvɔ̃ kple dzodzo nyanyanya lém eye wona nye ƒuwo katã dzo kpekpekpe.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
Gbɔgbɔ aɖe ɖo asagba va to nye ŋkume yi eye ɖadoe ɖo to ɖe ŋunye.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
Etɔ gake nyemate ŋu agblɔ nu si wònye o. Nɔnɔme aɖe va tsi tsitre ɖe ŋkunye me eye mese gbe bɔlɔe aɖe be,
17 'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
‘Ɖe ame kodzogbea anɔ dzɔdzɔe wu Mawua? Ɖe amegbetɔ anɔ dzadzɛe wu eƒe Wɔlaa?
18 Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;
Ne Mawu meka ɖe eƒe dɔlawo dzi o eye wòbua fɔ eƒe dɔlawo be woda vo,
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before 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 Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Wogbãa wo gudugudu le fɔŋli kple zã dome, ame aɖeke menyana gɔ̃ hã o, ale wotsrɔ̃na gbidii.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
Ɖe womehoa woƒe agbadɔkawo, ale be woaku numanyamanyae oa?’”
