Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to 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 righteous destroyed?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
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 whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body 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 recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can 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, in his servants he putteth no trust, 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 less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
