< Job 11 >
1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Naamatitɔ, Zofar ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
2 Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?
“Ɖe woagbe nya siawo ŋu ɖoɖo na wòa? Ɖe woabe nyawɔla sia tɔ dzɔa?
3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Ɖe wò nya dzodzro siawo ade ga nu na amewoa? Ɖe ame aɖeke meli aka mo na wò ne èle fewu ɖum oa?
4 For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.
Ègblɔ na Mawu be ‘Kpɔtsɔtsɔ mele nu siwo dzi mexɔ se la ŋu o eye medza le ŋkuwòme.’
5 But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
O, aleke medi be Mawu naƒo nu, ne wòake eƒe nuyiwo ɖe ŋutiwò,
6 And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].
ne wòaɖe nunya ƒe nu ɣaɣlawo afia wò elabena mo evee li na nunya. Vavã, nya esia be: Mawu ŋlɔ wò nu vɔ̃wo dometɔ aɖewo be gɔ̃ hã.
7 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
“Àte ŋu ase Mawu ƒe nya goglowo gɔmea? Àte ŋu adzro Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe mlɔenuwo ke mea?
8 [It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol )
Wokɔkɔ wu dziƒowo, nu ka nàte ŋu awɔ? Wogoglo wu tsiẽƒe ƒe gogloƒewo, nu ka nènya? (Sheol )
9 The measure thereof [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
Wodidi wu anyigba eye wokeke wu atsiaƒu.
10 If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?
Ke ne eva do, hede wò gaxɔ me eye wòdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu wò la, ame ka ate ŋu atsi tsitre ɖe eŋu?
11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider [it]?
Vavã enyaa alakpatɔwo eye ne ekpɔ nu vɔ̃ɖi la, ɖe medzea sii oa?
12 For vain man would be wise, though man be born [like] a wild ass’s colt.
Gake abe ale si gbetedzi mate ŋu adzi vi wòanye amegbetɔ o ene la, nenema kee womate ŋu awɔ bometsila hã wòazu nunyala o.
13 If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;
“Ke hã la, ne ètsɔ wò dzi nɛ blibo, ne èwu wò asiwo dzi do ɖe egbɔ,
14 If iniquity [be] in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
ne èɖe nu vɔ̃ siwo le wò asi me la ɖa eye ne mèɖe mɔ na nu vɔ̃ɖi aɖeke be wòanɔ wò agbadɔ me o la,
15 For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
ekema àkɔ wò mo dzi ŋukpemanɔmee, ànɔ te sesĩe eye mavɔ̃ o.
16 Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:
Le nyateƒe me la, àŋlɔ wò hiãkame be eye àɖo ŋku edzi ko abe tsi sisi si nu va yi la ene.
17 And [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.
Wò agbe me akɔ wu ŋdɔkutsu dzati eye viviti anɔ na wò abe ŋdikekeli ene.
18 And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Ànɔ dedie elabena mɔkpɔkpɔ li, àtsa ŋku godoo eye àmlɔ anyi bɔkɔɔ le dedinɔnɔ me.
19 Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.
Àmlɔ anyi eye ame aɖeke mava do ŋɔdzi na wò o; ale ame geɖewo ava bia amenuveve tso gbɔwò.
20 But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the giving up of the ghost.
Ke ɖeɖi ate ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ŋkuwo ŋu, bebeƒe abu ɖe wo eye woƒe mɔkpɔkpɔ azu kudɔƒoƒo.”