Hiob 4

1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob sɛ,

Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, and said: —

2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboaseɛ mma no anaa? Hwan na wɔbɛtumi aka nʼano ato mu?

If one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?

3 Dwene sɛdeɛ wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛdeɛ woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛ den.

Lo! thou hast admonished many, and, slack hands, hast thou been wont to uphold:

4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔasunti no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛ mu den.

Him that was stumbling, have thy words raised up, and, sinking knees, hast thou strengthened.

5 Na afei a ɔhaw aba no, wʼaba mu abu; aba wo so, na wo ho adwiri wo.

But, now, it cometh upon thee, and thou despairest, It smiteth even thee, and thou art dismayed.

6 Wo nyamesuro mma wo ahotosoɔ anaa, na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm mma wo anidasoɔ anaa?

Is not, thy reverence, thy confidence? And is not, thy hope, the very 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, being innocent, hath perished, or when, the upright, have been cut off.

8 Sɛdeɛ mahunu no, wɔn a wɔfɛntɛm bɔne ne wɔn a wɔdua ɔhaw no, wɔtwa so aba.

So far as I have seen, They who plow for iniquity and sow misery, reap the same:

9 Sɛ Onyankopɔn home a, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuo ma wɔyera.

By the blast of GOD, they perish, And, by the breath of his nostrils, are they consumed:

10 Agyata bɛtumi abobom na wɔapɔ so, nanso wɔbɛbubu gyata akɛseɛ no se.

[Notwithstanding] the roaring of the lion, and the noise of the howling lion, yet, the teeth of the fierce lions, are broken:

11 Gyata annya haboa a ɔwu, na gyatabereɛ mma no bɔ hwete.

The strong lion perishing for lack of prey, Even the whelps of the lioness, are scattered.

12 “Wɔbɛkaa kokoamsɛm bi kyerɛɛ me na mʼaso tee no sɛ asomusɛm.

But, unto me, something was brought by stealth, —and mine ear caught a whispering of the same:

13 Wɔ anadwo daeɛso basabasa mu, ɛberɛ a nnipa adeda nnahɔɔ no,

When there were thoughts, from visions of the night, —When deep sleep falleth upon men,

14 ehu ne nketenkete kyeree me. Ɛmaa me nnompe nyinaa wosoeɛ.

Dread, came upon me, and trembling, The multitude of my bones, it put in dread:

15 Honhom bi twaa mʼani so, na me ho nwi sɔre gyinaeɛ.

Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-up:

16 Ɛgyinaeɛ, nanso, manhunu nʼabɔsuo. Biribi bɛgyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa sɛ,

It stood still, but I could not distinguish its appearance, I looked, but there was no form before mine eyes, —A whispering voice, I heard: —

17 ‘Onipa dasani bɛtumi atene asene Onyankopɔn? Onipa bɛtumi ayɛ kronn asene ne Yɛfoɔ anaa?

Shall, mortal man, be more just than GOD? Or 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,

Lo! in his own servants, he trusteth not, and, his own messengers, he chargeth with error:

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 the dwellers in houses of clay, which, in the dust, have their foundation, which are crushed sooner than a moth:

20 Ɛfiri anɔpahema kɔsi anwummerɛ wɔbubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhunu wɔn bio.

Betwixt morning and evening, are they broken in pieces, With none to save, they utterly perish:

21 Wɔtete wɔn ntomadan nhoma mu, ɛno enti wɔwuwu a wɔnnim.’

Is not their tent-rope within them, torn away? They die, disrobed of wisdom!