Hiob 23

1 Tete Hiob ɖo eŋu be,

And Job made answer and said,

2 “Egbe gɔ̃ hã nye konyifafa do gã ɖe edzi, eƒe asi sẽ ɖe dzinye, evɔ mele hũu ɖem hafi.

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

3 Nenye ɖe manya afi si makpɔe le, nenye ɖe mayi enɔƒe la, anyo ŋutɔ!

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

4 Matsɔ nye nya aɖo eŋkume eye nye nu me ayɔ fũu kple nya siwo matsɔ aɖe ɖokuinye nu

I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

5 Ne makpɔ ale si wòaɖo eŋu nam eye mabu nya si wòagblɔ la ŋuti.

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

6 Ɖe wòatsi tsitre ɖe ŋunye kple ŋusẽ gã aɖea? Ao, ke boŋ aɖo tom

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

7 Afi ma ame dzɔdzɔe ate ŋu atsɔ eƒe nyawo aɖo eŋkume le eye woaɖem tegbee tso nye ʋɔnudrɔ̃la ƒe asi me.

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

8 “Gake ne meyi ɣedzeƒe la, mele afi ma o, ne meyi ɣetoɖoƒe la, nyemekpɔe le afi ma hã o.

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

9 Ne ele dɔ wɔm le anyiehe la, nyemekpɔnɛ o, ne etrɔ ɖe dziehe hã la, nye ŋku melɔnɛ o.

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

10 Gake enya mɔ si dzi mele, ne edom kpɔ la, mato eme abe sika ene.

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

11 Nye afɔwo le eƒe afɔtoƒewo yome kplikplikpli, melé eƒe mɔ tsɔ eye nyemedze ɖe aga o.

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

12 Nyemete ɖe aga tso eƒe nuyiwo ƒe sededewo gbɔ o, mede asixɔxɔ eƒe nyawo ŋu wu nye gbe sia gbe ƒe nuɖuɖu.

I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

13 “Ke eya ɖekae li, ame ka ate ŋu axe mɔ nɛ? Nu sia nu si dze eŋu lae wòwɔna.

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

14 Ena se siwo wòde ɖi la va eme ɖe ŋutinye eye ɖoɖo siawo tɔgbi gale esi ɖe ŋunye.

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

15 Esia ta ŋɔ dzim le eŋkume eye ne mebu esiawo katã ŋuti la, mevɔ̃na nɛ.

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

16 Mawu na dzi ɖe le ƒonye, Ŋusẽkatãtɔ la do ŋɔdzi nam.

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

17 Ke hã la, viviti la alo blukɔ tsiɖitsiɖi si tsyɔ mo nam la mena ɖoɖoe zi le nunye o.

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.