Hiob 16
1 Hiob ɖo eŋu nɛ be,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “Mese nya siawo tɔgbi wòsɔ gbɔ, akɔfala gbɔlowo ko mi katã mienye!
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Miaƒe nuƒo legbe, gɔdɔ̃gɔdɔ̃awo mawu nu akpɔ oa? Nu kae le mia vem be miegale nyahehe dzi kokoko?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
4 Nenye miawoe le tenyeƒe la, nye hã maƒo nu abe miawo ke ene, agblɔ nyatinyatiwo ɖe mia ŋu eye maʋuʋu ta ɖe mia ŋu.
I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my head at you.
5 Maƒo nu ade dzi ƒo na mi eye akɔfanya siwo ado tso nunye la ana miaƒe dzi adze eme.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 “Gake ne meƒo nu la, nye vevesesewo dzi maka ɖe kpɔtɔ o eye ne medzudzɔ hã la, veveseseawo medzona o.
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 O Mawu, vavãe èna mevɔ le eme keŋkeŋ eye nètsrɔ̃ nye aƒekɔ la katã.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 Èna meɖi ku, vɔ keŋ eye wòzu ɖaseɖiɖi, nye kuɖiɖi tsi tsitre hezu ɖasefo ɖe ŋunye.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony to my face.
9 Yehowa ƒom, hevuvum le eƒe dziku me eye wòɖu aɖukli ɖe ŋunye, nye ketɔ fɔ ŋku ɖaɖɛwo ɖe dzinye.
In his wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at me.
10 Amewo ke woƒe nuwo baa hedo ɣli ɖe tanye. Woƒo tome nam fewuɖutɔe eye wowɔ ɖeka ɖe ŋunye.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 Mawu dem asi na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo eye wòkɔm ƒu gbe ɖe ŋutasẽlawo ƒe fego me.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
12 Nuwo nɔ edzi dzem nam nyuie gake ekakam. Elé kɔʋume nam hegbãm gudugudugudu. Etsɔm wɔ ade si minyam wòle,
I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself as a mark;
13 eƒe aŋutrɔdalawo ɖe to ɖem. Eŋɔ nye ayikuwo nublanuimakpɔmakpɔtɔe eye wòna nye vevego gbã hekɔ ɖe anyigba.
His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 Eva ƒo ɖe dzinye enuenu eye wòlũ ɖe dzinye abe kalẽtɔ ene.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 “Metɔ akpanya hetsyɔ na nye ŋutilã eye metsɔ nye mo de ke me.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 Avifafa na nye mo biã dzẽe, vɔvɔli ƒo xlã nye ŋkuwo,
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 evɔ nye asiwo mewɔ nu tovo aɖeke o eye nye gbedodoɖa hã dza hafi.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 “O, anyigba, mègatsyɔ nye ʋu dzi o eye ɖoɖoe megazi le nye ɣlidodo nu o!
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Azɔ gɔ̃ hã la, nye ɖasefo le dziƒo eye nye nyaxɔɖeakɔla le afi ma.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 Tanyeʋlila nye xɔ̃nye, esi nye ŋkuwo le aɖatsi ɖuɖum na Mawu.
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 Eɖea kuku na Mawu ɖe ame ta abe ale si ame ɖea kuku ɖe xɔlɔ̃a tae ene.
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 “Ƒe ʋɛ aɖewo koe ava yi hafi madze mɔ ayi demagbɔnugbe.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
