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 anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient? But who can stop himself from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
Your words have supported him who was falling; you have made feeble knees firm.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
Is not your fear your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn ana? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent? Or when were the upright people ever 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, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap it.
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
By the breath of God they perish; by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.
11 Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
The old lion perishes for lack of victims; the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper about it.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
Then came thoughts from visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on people.
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me, and all my bones shook.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
Then a spirit passed before my face, and the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
The spirit stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
“Can a mortal man be more righteous than God? 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,
See, if God puts no trust in his servants; if he accuses his angels of 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 is this true of those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed sooner than a moth?
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without anyone noticing them.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Are not their tent cords plucked up among them? They die; they die without wisdom.
