Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
[If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? 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 faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
[Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness 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 righteous cut off?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and 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 stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little 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, which made all my bones to shake.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood 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 form thereof: an image [was] before mine eyes, [there was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged 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 less [in] them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [which] are crushed before the moth?
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding [it].
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Doth not their excellency [which is] in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
