Hiob 23

1 Tete Hiob ɖo eŋu be,

Then Job answered, and said:

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

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than 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 come 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 set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

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

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight 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 propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

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

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

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

If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

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

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined 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 departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

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 man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

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

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

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

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

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

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

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

For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.