Job 4
1 Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
2 If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
“Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
3 Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to 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 confounded!
Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
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 have the righteous been cut off?
“Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn ana? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
8 According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, 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 they are 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 fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
12 A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
“Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
14 A fear and a horror came upon me, 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 rose on end;
Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
16 It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
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 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 putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
19 What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
20 Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
21 The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
