Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,
Then Eliphaz the Themanite 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 we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill, but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?
3 Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.
Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.
Thy words have confirmed them that were staggering, and thou hast strengthened the trembling knees:
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.
But now the scourge is come upon thee, and thou faintest: it hath touched thee, and thou art troubled.
6 Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?
Where is thy fear, thy fortitude, thy patience, and the perfection of thy ways?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn anaa? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? or when were the just destroyed?
8 Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.
On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them,
9 Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.
Perishing by the blast of God, and consumed by the spirit of his wrath.
10 Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the teeth of the whelps of lions are broken:
11 Gyata annya haboa a ɔwu, na gyatabereɛ mma no bɔ hwete.
The tiger hath perished for want of prey, and the young lions are scattered abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.
Now there was a word spoken to me in private, and my ears by stealth as it were received the veins of its whisper.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In the horror of a vision by night, when deep sleep is wont to hold men,
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.
Fear seized upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were affrighted:
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.
And when a spirit passed before me, the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,
There stood one whose countenance I knew not, an image before my eyes, and I heard the voice as it were of a gentle wind:
17 ‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?
Shall man be justified in comparison of God, or shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfoɔ so, na sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfoɔ mpo anim a,
Behold they that serve him are not steadfast, and in his angels he found wickedness:
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 shall they that dwell in houses of clay, who have an earthly foundation, be consumed as with the moth?
20 Ɛfiri anɔpahema kɔsi anwummerɛ wɔbubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhunu wɔn bio.
From morning till evening they shall be cut down: and because no one understandeth, they shall perish for ever.
21 Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’
And they that shall be left, shall be taken away from them: they shall die, and not in wisdom.
