Hiob 4
1 Tete Temanitɔ Elifaz ɖo eŋu na Hiob be,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and 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 a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Bu ale si nèfia nu ame geɖewo kple ale si nèdo ŋusẽ asi beliwoe ŋuti.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Wò nyawo lé ame siwo yina anyi dze ge la ɖe te eye nèdo ŋusẽ klo beliwo.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 Ke azɔ la, dzɔgbevɔ̃e va dziwò, eye dzi ɖe le ƒo wò; eƒo wò ƒu anyi eye nèse veve.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Ɖe wò Mawuvɔvɔ̃ manye wò dzideƒo eye wò blibodede nanye wò mɔkpɔkpɔ oa?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 “Azɔ bu eŋuti kpɔ. Ame maɖifɔ ka wohe to na kpɔ? Afi ka wogblẽ ame dzɔdzɔe dome le kpɔ?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 Abe ale si mede dzesii ene la, ame siwo ŋlɔ vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ƒe agble eye woƒã dzɔgbevɔ̃e lae ŋenɛ.
Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Ne Mawu gbɔ ɖe wo dzi la woyrɔna eye ne eƒe dziku fla la wotsrɔ̃na.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Dzatawo aɖe gbe, axlɔ̃ sesĩe gake woate ŋu aŋe aɖu na dzataviwo.
The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
11 Dzata kuna ne mekpɔ nu lé o eye dzatanɔwo kakana.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Wotsɔ nya aɖe vɛ nam le adzame, nye towo see wotsɔe do dalĩ nam.
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Le drɔ̃ewo me le zã me, esi amewo dɔ alɔ̃ yi eme ʋĩi la,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 vɔvɔ̃ kple dzodzo nyanyanya lém eye wona nye ƒuwo katã dzo kpekpekpe.
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
15 Gbɔgbɔ aɖe ɖo asagba va to nye ŋkume yi eye ɖadoe ɖo to ɖe ŋunye.
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh 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,
It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
17 ‘Ɖe ame kodzogbea anɔ dzɔdzɔe wu Mawua? Ɖe amegbetɔ anɔ dzadzɛe wu eƒe Wɔlaa?
Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
18 Ne Mawu meka ɖe eƒe dɔlawo dzi o eye wòbua fɔ eƒe dɔlawo be woda vo,
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
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 them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
20 Wogbãa wo gudugudu le fɔŋli kple zã dome, ame aɖeke menyana gɔ̃ hã o, ale wotsrɔ̃na gbidii.
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 Ɖe womehoa woƒe agbadɔkawo, ale be woaku numanyamanyae oa?’”
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
