Hiob 4
1 Na Temanni Elifas buaa Hiob se,
Then responded Eliphaz the Temanite, and said: —
2 “Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔne wo kasa a, worennya ntoboase ana? Hena na wobetumi aka nʼano ato mu?
If one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?
3 Dwene sɛnea wakyerɛkyerɛ nnipa bebree, sɛnea woahyɛ nsa a emu ayɛ mmerɛw no den.
Lo! thou hast admonished many, and, slack hands, hast thou been wont to uphold:
4 Wo nsɛm ahyɛ wɔn a wɔahintiw no den; woahyɛ nkotodwe a ayɛ mmerɛw 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; adwira wo, na wo werɛ ahow.
But, now, it cometh upon thee, and thou despairest, It smiteth even thee, and thou art dismayed.
6 So ɛnsɛ sɛ wo nyamesuro yɛ wʼahotoso na wʼakwan a ɛho nni asɛm no yɛ wʼanidaso ana?
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 ana? 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 Sɛnea mahu no, wɔn a wofuntum bɔne ne wɔn a wodua ɔhaw no twa so aba.
So far as I have seen, They who plow for iniquity and sow misery, reap the same:
9 Onyankopɔn home ano, wɔsɛe; nʼabufuw turuw a wɔyera.
By the blast of GOD, they perish, And, by the breath of his nostrils, are they consumed:
10 Gyata betumi abobɔ mu na wɔaworo so, nanso wɔabubu gyata akɛse 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 hanam a owu, na gyatabere 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 asomsɛm.
But, unto me, something was brought by stealth, —and mine ear caught a whispering of the same:
13 Wɔ anadwo daeso basabasa mu, bere 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 wosowee.
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 gyinae.
Then, a spirit, over my face, floated along, The hair of my flesh bristled-up:
16 Egyinae, nanso, manhu nʼabɔsu. Biribi begyinaa mʼanim, na metee nne bɔkɔɔ bi a ɛrebisa se,
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 desani betumi ateɛ asen Onyankopɔn? Na mpo ɔhoɔdenfo betumi ayɛ kronkron asen ne Yɛfo ana?
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 asomfo so, sɛ ɔka nʼabɔfo mfomso kyerɛ wɔn a,
Lo! in his own servants, he trusteth not, and, his own messengers, he chargeth with error:
19 na nkantom wɔn a wɔtete dɔte afi mu, wɔn a wɔn fapem sisi mfutuma mu na wɔdwerɛw wɔn ntɛm so sen abubummaba!
How much more the dwellers in houses of clay, which, in the dust, have their foundation, which are crushed sooner than a moth:
20 Efi anɔpahema kosi anwummere wobubu wɔn mu nketenkete; na wɔyera korakora a obiara nhu wɔn bio.
Betwixt morning and evening, are they broken in pieces, With none to save, they utterly perish:
21 So wommiamia wɔn ntamadan ahama mu, a ɛno nti wowuwu a wonni nyansa ana?’
Is not their tent-rope within them, torn away? They die, disrobed of wisdom!
