Hiob 20
1 Tete Naamatitɔ, Zofar ɖo eŋu nɛ be,
Then Sophar the Minaean answered and said,
2 “Nu siwo le fu ɖem na nye susue dɔm be maɖo eŋu na wò elabena metsi dzi le ɖokuinye me ŋutɔ.
I did not suppose that thou wouldest answer thus: neither do ye understand more than I.
3 Mese mokaname aɖe si ɖe bubu le ŋunye, eye nye gɔmesese de dzi ƒo nam be maɖo nyawo ŋu.
I will hear my shameful reproach; and the spirit of my understanding answers me.
4 “Meka ɖe edzi be ènya ale si wònɔ tso blema, tso ɣeyiɣi si ke wowɔ amegbetɔ da ɖe anyigba dzi be
Hast thou [not] known these things of old, from the time that man was set upon the earth?
5 ame vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe nukoko nu mesena yina o, eye Mawumavɔ̃lawo ƒe aseyetsotso nɔa anyi ɣeyiɣi kpui aɖe ko.
But the mirth of the ungodly is a signal downfall, and the joy of transgressors is destruction:
6 Togbɔ be eƒe dada yi ɖatɔ dziƒo, eƒe ta yi ɖatɔ lilikpowo ke hã la,
although his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice reach the clouds.
7 atsrɔ̃ gbidii abe eya ŋutɔ ƒe afɔdzi ene eye ame siwo kpɔe la agblɔ be, ‘Afi ka wòle?’
For when he shall seem to be now established, then he shall utterly perish: and they that knew him shall say, Where is he?
8 Edzona dzona abe drɔ̃e ene, womagakpɔe o eye wòabu abe ŋutega si wokpɔ le zã me ene.
Like a dream that has fled away, he shall not be found; and he has fled like a vision of the night.
9 Ŋku si kpɔe la magakpɔe akpɔ o, eye eƒe nɔƒe hã magakpɔe akpɔ o.
The eye has looked upon him, but shall not [see him] again; and his place shall no longer perceive him.
10 Ele be viawo nawɔ ɖɔɖɔɖo anyo dɔ me na ame dahewo, eya ŋutɔ ƒe asiwo aɖe asi le eƒe kesinɔnuwo ŋu.
Let [his] inferiors destroy his children, and let his hands kindle the fire of sorrow.
11 Ɖekakpuimeŋusẽ dzodzoe si yɔ eƒe ƒuwo me la aku kplii ayi ke me.
His bones have been filled with [vigour of] his youth, and it shall lie down with him in the dust.
12 “Togbɔ be nu vɔ̃ɖi vivi le eƒe nu me, eye wòɣlae ɖe eƒe aɖe te,
Though evil be sweet in his mouth, [though] he will hide it under his tongue;
13 togbɔ be mate ŋu aɖe asi le eŋu o eye wòbe ɖe nu me nɛ hã la,
though he will not spare it, and will not leave it, but will keep it in the midst of his throat:
14 eƒe nuɖuɖu ave le eƒe dɔ me, eye wòazu da ƒe aɖi le eƒe dɔgbowo me.
yet he shall not at all be able to help himself; the gall of an asp is in his belly.
15 Atu kesinɔnu siwo wòmi la aƒu gbe. Mawu ana eƒe dɔgbowo nadzɔ wo katã aƒo ɖi.
[His] wealth unjustly collected shall be vomited up; a messenger [of wrath] shall drag him out of his house.
16 Eno da ƒe aɖi eye ƒli ƒe aɖi awui.
And let him suck the poison of serpents, and let the serpent's tongue slay him.
17 Makpɔ gome le tɔʋu kple tɔsisi siwo me anyitsi kple notsi babla le sisim le la me o.
Let him not see the milk of the pastures, nor the supplies of honey and butter.
18 Maɖu nu siwo ŋu wòdze agbagba le o, ke boŋ atsɔ wo ana eye maɖu viɖe si do tso eƒe asitsatsa hã me o
He has laboured unprofitably and in vain, [for] wealth of which he shall not taste: [it is] as a lean thing, unfit for food, which he cannot swallow.
19 elabena ete ame dahewo ɖe to wozu hiãtɔwo eye wòxɔ aƒe siwo metu o.
For he has broken down the houses of many mighty men: and he has plundered an habitation, though he built [it] not.
20 “Vavã makpɔ gbɔdzɔe le eƒe nudzodzrowo me o eye maɖe eɖokui to eƒe nunɔamesiwo dzi o.
There is no security to his possessions; he shall not be saved by his desire.
21 Naneke masusɔ nɛ esi wòavuvu o eƒe kesinɔnuwo matɔ ɖi o.
There is nothing remaining of his provisions; therefore his goods shall not flourish.
22 Le eƒe nukpɔkpɔ gbogboawo dome la, xaxa ava edzi eye hiãtuame ƒe ŋusẽ katã ava edzi.
But when he shall seem to be just satisfied, he shall be straitened; and all distress shall come upon him.
23 Ne eƒe ƒodo yɔ nyuie la Mawu atrɔ eƒe dziku bibi akɔ ɖe edzi eye wòana eƒe dɔmedzoe nadza ɖe edzi.
If by any means he would fill his belly, let [God] send upon him the fury of wrath; let him bring a torrent of pains upon him.
24 Togbɔ be esi le gayibɔlãnu nu hã la, akɔbliŋutrɔ ƒo ɖee.
And he shall by no means escape from the power of the sword; let the brazen bow wound him.
25 Eɖee do goe tso eƒe lãme eye wòho eƒe tsutsyɔeƒe le eƒe aklã me. Ŋɔdzi alée,
And let the arrow pierce through his body; and let the stars be against his dwelling-place: let terrors come upon him.
26 eye viviti tsiɖitsiɖi le eƒe kesinɔnuwo lalam. Dzo si womeƒlɔ ɖo o la afiae eye wòabi nu si susɔ ɖe eƒe agbadɔ me la keŋkeŋkeŋ.
And let all darkness wait for him: a fire that burns not out shall consume him; and let a stranger plague his house.
27 Dziƒo aɖe eƒe vodada ɖe go eye anyigba atso ɖe eŋu.
And let the heaven reveal his iniquities, and the earth rise up against him.
28 Tsiɖɔɖɔ akplɔ eƒe aƒe adzoe eye le Mawu ƒe dɔmedzoeŋkeke la dzi la, tsi sisiwo akplɔe adzoe.
Let destruction bring his house to an end; let a day of wrath come upon him.
29 Esia nye gomekpɔkpɔ si Mawu ɖo ɖi na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo, eye wònye domenyinu tso Mawu gbɔ na wo.”
This is the portion of an ungodly man from the Lord, and the possession of his goods [appointed him] by the all-seeing [God].
