Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, 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 essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
3 Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.
Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.
Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.
Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
6 Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?
Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity 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 where were the righteous destroyed?
8 Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.
Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
9 Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.
Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
10 Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.
The roaring 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 have to scatter themselves abroad.
12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.
But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
13 Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,
In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.
Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.
Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body stood up:
16 Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,
It stood still, but I could not recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
17 ‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?
Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can 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, in his servants he putteth no trust, 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 less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by 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 broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
21 Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’
Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
