< Job 4 >

1 THEN Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
2 If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
“Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
“Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn ana? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
“Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
19 How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’

< Job 4 >