Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn ana? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger are they consumed.
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
Behold, He putteth no trust in His servants, and His angels He chargeth with folly;
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 them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
