Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,
And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboaseɛ mma no anaa? Hwan na wɔbɛtumi aka nʼano ato mu?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.
Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.
But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?
Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn anaa? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
8 Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.
Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
9 Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.
By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
10 Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.
The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
11 Gyata annya haboa a ɔwu, na gyatabereɛ mma no bɔ hwete.
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.
Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.
Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.
And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
16 Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,
It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
17 ‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?
Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfoɔ so, na sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfoɔ mpo anim a,
Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
19 hwan ne onipa a wɔde dɔteɛ anwene no, a ne fapem sisi mfuturo mu na wɔdwerɛ no ntɛm so sene abubummabaa?
How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
20 Ɛfiri anɔpahema kɔsi anwummerɛ wɔbubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhunu wɔn bio.
From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
21 Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’
Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
