Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then spake 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 attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to 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 confounded!
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 hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
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 have the righteous been cut off?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, 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 they are 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 fierce 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.
A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
A fear and a horror came upon me, 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 rose on end;
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
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 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 putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
19 na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
