Hiob 11
1 Naamatitɔ, Zofar ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 “Ɖe woagbe nya siawo ŋu ɖoɖo na wòa? Ɖe woabe nyawɔla sia tɔ dzɔa?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Ɖe wò nya dzodzro siawo ade ga nu na amewoa? Ɖe ame aɖeke meli aka mo na wò ne èle fewu ɖum oa?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 Ègblɔ na Mawu be ‘Kpɔtsɔtsɔ mele nu siwo dzi mexɔ se la ŋu o eye medza le ŋkuwòme.’
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 O, aleke medi be Mawu naƒo nu, ne wòake eƒe nuyiwo ɖe ŋutiwò,
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 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.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 “Àte ŋu ase Mawu ƒe nya goglowo gɔmea? Àte ŋu adzro Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la ƒe mlɔenuwo ke mea?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Wodidi wu anyigba eye wokeke wu atsiaƒu.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 Ke ne eva do, hede wò gaxɔ me eye wòdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu wò la, ame ka ate ŋu atsi tsitre ɖe eŋu?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 Vavã enyaa alakpatɔwo eye ne ekpɔ nu vɔ̃ɖi la, ɖe medzea sii oa?
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 Gake abe ale si gbetedzi mate ŋu adzi vi wòanye amegbetɔ o ene la, nenema kee womate ŋu awɔ bometsila hã wòazu nunyala o.
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 “Ke hã la, ne ètsɔ wò dzi nɛ blibo, ne èwu wò asiwo dzi do ɖe egbɔ,
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 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,
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 ekema àkɔ wò mo dzi ŋukpemanɔmee, ànɔ te sesĩe eye mavɔ̃ o.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 Le nyateƒe me la, àŋlɔ wò hiãkame be eye àɖo ŋku edzi ko abe tsi sisi si nu va yi la ene.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Wò agbe me akɔ wu ŋdɔkutsu dzati eye viviti anɔ na wò abe ŋdikekeli ene.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 Ànɔ dedie elabena mɔkpɔkpɔ li, àtsa ŋku godoo eye àmlɔ anyi bɔkɔɔ le dedinɔnɔ me.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 Àmlɔ anyi eye ame aɖeke mava do ŋɔdzi na wò o; ale ame geɖewo ava bia amenuveve tso gbɔwò.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 Ke ɖeɖi ate ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ŋkuwo ŋu, bebeƒe abu ɖe wo eye woƒe mɔkpɔkpɔ azu kudɔƒoƒo.”
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
