Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn ana? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
19 na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
