Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboaseɛ mma no anaa? Hwan na wɔbɛtumi aka nʼano ato mu?
“Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
3 Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.
You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.
Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.
But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
6 Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?
Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
7 “Dwene ho: Wɔasɛe obi a ne ho nni asɛm pɛn anaa? Ɛhefa na wɔsɛee obi a ɔyɛ pɛ?
Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
8 Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.
From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
9 Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.
A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
10 Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.
Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
11 Gyata annya haboa a ɔwu, na gyatabereɛ mma no bɔ hwete.
Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.
A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.
I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.
Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
16 Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,
Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?
‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
18 Sɛ Onyankopɔn ntumi mfa ne ho nto nʼankasa asomfoɔ so, na sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfoɔ mpo anim a,
If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
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 does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
20 Ɛfiri anɔpahema kɔsi anwummerɛ wɔbubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhunu wɔn bio.
Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
21 Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’
They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
