Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
Hath one tried a word with thee? — Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
Lo, thou hast instructed many, And feeble hands thou makest strong.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw mu den.
The stumbling one do thy words raise up, And bowing knees thou dost strengthen.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But now, it cometh in unto thee, And thou art weary; It striketh unto 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 thy reverence thy confidence? Thy hope — the perfection 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, being innocent, hath perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
8 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
As I have seen — ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger consumed.
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse no se.
The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
11 Gyata annya hanam a owu, na gyatabere mma no bɔ hwete.
An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness do separate.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomsɛm.
And unto me a thing is secretly brought, And receive doth mine ear a little of it.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosowee.
Fear hath met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinae.
And a spirit before my face doth pass, Stand up doth the hair of my flesh;
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
It standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude [is] over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
17 ‘Onipa desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
'Is mortal man than God more righteous? Than his Maker is a man cleaner?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
Lo, in His servants He putteth no credence, Nor in His messengers setteth praise.'
19 na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
Also — the inhabitants of houses of clay, (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth.)
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, for ever they perish.
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Hath not their excellency been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!
