Hiob 4
1 Tete Temanitɔ Elifaz ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
But Eliphaz the Themanite, answering, said:
2 “Ne ame aɖe te kpɔ be yeaƒo nu kpli wò la, ɖe nàgbɔ dzi ɖi aseea? Ke ame kae ate ŋu azi ɖoɖoe le nu sia ŋuti?
If we start to speak to you, perhaps you will take it badly, but who can hold back the words he has conceived?
3 Bu ale si nèfia nu ame geɖewo kple ale si nèdo ŋusẽ asi beliwoe ŋuti.
Behold, you have taught many, and you have strengthened weary hands.
4 Wò nyawo lé ame siwo yina anyi dze ge la ɖe te eye nèdo ŋusẽ klo beliwo.
Your words have reassured the wavering, and you have fortified the trembling knees.
5 Ke azɔ la, dzɔgbevɔ̃e va dziwò, eye dzi ɖe le ƒo wò; eƒo wò ƒu anyi eye nèse veve.
But now the scourge has overcome you, and you falter. It has touched you, and you are disturbed.
6 Ɖe wò Mawuvɔvɔ̃ manye wò dzideƒo eye wò blibodede nanye wò mɔkpɔkpɔ oa?
Where is your reverence, your fortitude, your patience, and the perfection of your ways?
7 “Azɔ bu eŋuti kpɔ. Ame maɖifɔ ka wohe to na kpɔ? Afi ka wogblẽ ame dzɔdzɔe dome le kpɔ?
Consider this, I beg you: who ever perished being innocent? Or when have the righteous been destroyed?
8 Abe ale si mede dzesii ene la, ame siwo ŋlɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ƒe agble eye woƒã dzɔgbevɔ̃e lae ŋenɛ.
In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,
9 Ne Mawu gbɔ ɖe wo dzi la woyrɔna eye ne eƒe dziku fla la wotsrɔ̃na.
perishing by the breath of God, and being consumed by the wrath of his spirit.
10 Dzatawo aɖe gbe, axlɔ̃ sesĩe gake woate ŋu aŋe aɖu na dzataviwo.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of young lions have been worn away.
11 Dzata kuna ne mekpɔ nu lé o eye dzatanɔwo kakana.
The tiger has perished because it does not have prey, and the young lions have been scattered.
12 “Wotsɔ nya aɖe vɛ nam le adzame, nye towo see wotsɔe do dalĩ nam.
Furthermore, a word was spoken to me in secret, and, as if by theft, my ears received the pulse of its whisper.
13 Le drɔ̃ewo me le zã me, esi amewo dɔ alɔ̃ yi eme ʋĩi la,
In the horror of a vision by night, when men are accustomed to be overtaken by a deep sleep,
14 vɔvɔ̃ kple dzodzo nyanyanya lém eye wona nye ƒuwo katã dzo kpekpekpe.
fear and trembling seized me and all my bones were terrified.
15 Gbɔgbɔ aɖe ɖo asagba va to nye ŋkume yi eye ɖadoe ɖo to ɖe ŋunye.
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair on my body stood up.
16 Etɔ gake nyemate ŋu agblɔ nu si wònye o. Nɔnɔme aɖe va tsi tsitre ɖe ŋkunye me eye mese gbe bɔlɔe aɖe be,
There appeared an image before my eyes, someone whose face I did not recognize, and I heard a voice like a gentle breeze.
17 ‘Ɖe ame kodzogbea anɔ dzɔdzɔe wu Mawua? Ɖe amegbetɔ anɔ dzadzɛe wu eƒe Wɔlaa?
Should man be justified in relation to God, or will a man be more pure than his Maker?
18 Ne Mawu meka ɖe eƒe dɔlawo dzi o eye wòbua fɔ eƒe dɔlawo be woda vo,
Behold, those who serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he finds imperfection.
19 ʋuu keke, ke wòahanye ame siwo le anyixɔwo me, ame siwo gɔme woɖo anyi ɖe ke me eye wogbãa wo bɔbɔe abe ŋɔvi ene!
How much more will those who live in houses of clay, which have an earthly foundation, be consumed like the moth?
20 Wogbãa wo gudugudu le fɔŋli kple zã dome, ame aɖeke menyana gɔ̃ hã o, ale wotsrɔ̃na gbidii.
From morning all the way to evening, they will be cut down, and because no one understands, they will be destroyed without ceasing.
21 Ɖe womehoa woƒe agbadɔkawo, ale be woaku numanyamanyae oa?’”
But those who are left behind will be taken away from them; they will die, and not in wisdom.
