< Hiob 4 >

1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you 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, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the 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 the feeble knees firm.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But now it has come to you, and you faint. 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?
Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t 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?
“Remember, now, 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 to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger 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, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11 Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones 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 couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then 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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.
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 those who 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.
Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’

< Hiob 4 >