Hiob 23

1 Tete Hiob ɖo eŋu be,

Then Job answered by saying:

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

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

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

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

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

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

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

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

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

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

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

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

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

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

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

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

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

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

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

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

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I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

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

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

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

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

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

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

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

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

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

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.