Job 23
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Siope, ʻo ne pehē,
2 Even now is my complaint bitter: my suffering is heavier than my groans.
“ʻOku kona ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku mamahi, ʻio, ʻi he ʻaho ni: pea mamafa lahi hoku tā ʻi heʻeku faʻa toʻe.
3 Oh who would grant that I knew where I might find him! that I might attain to his Judgment throne!
Taumaiā ke u ʻilo ʻae potu te u maʻu ai ia! Ke u aʻu atu ki hono nofoʻanga!
4 I would put in order before him my cause, and my mouth would I fill with arguments.
Te u fakamatala ʻeku meʻa ʻi hono ʻao, ʻo fakafonu hoku ngutu ʻaki ʻae ngaahi lea fakamamafa.
5 I should know the words which he might answer me, and understand what he might say unto me.
Te u ʻilo ai ʻae ngaahi lea te ne tali ʻaki au, pea u faʻa ʻilo ʻaia te ne lea ʻaki mai kiate au.
6 Would he with his power contend against me? he would truly not lay such doings to my charge.
He te ne fai mo au ʻaki hono mālohi lahi? ʻIkai: ka te ne ʻai ʻae mālohi kiate au.
7 There would an upright one argue with him; and I should be allowed to escape for ever by my judge.
ʻE faʻa alea ai mo ia ʻae māʻoniʻoni; pea ʻe fakamoʻui taʻengata ai au mei hoku fakamaau.
8 But, lo, I go eastward—and he is not there; and to the west— and I cannot perceive him;
“Vakai, ʻoku ou ʻalu atu, ka ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ia; pea ʻoku ou foki mai, kae ʻikai te u ʻiloʻi ia:
9 When he doth great things at the north, I behold him not; he hideth himself in the south—and I see him not.
Ki he toʻohema, ʻoku ne ngāue ai, kae ʻikai te u sio ki ai: pea ʻoku ne fufū ia ʻi he toʻomataʻu, ke ʻoua naʻaku ʻilo ia:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: were he to probe me, I should come forth as gold.
Ka ʻoku ne ʻilo ʻae hala ʻoku ou ʻalu ai: pea ka ʻosi ʻene ʻahiʻahiʻi au, te u hao mai ʻo hangē ko e koula.
11 On his steps my foot hath held fast: his way have I kept, and swerved not.
Kuo puke maʻu ʻe hoku vaʻe ki hono lakaʻanga, pea kuo u ʻalu ʻi hono hala, ʻo ʻikai afe.
12 From the commandment of his lips have I also not moved away: as a fixed statute for me have I treasured up the sayings of his mouth.
Pea naʻe ʻikai te u foki mai mei he fekau ʻa hono fofonga: kuo u fufū ʻi hoku loto ʻae ngaahi lea ʻa hono fofonga.
13 But he is unchangeably one, and who can turn him? And what his will desireth, even that he doth.
Ka ʻoku pehē ai pe ia pea ko hai te ne liliu ia? Pea ko ia ʻoku tokanga ki ai hono finangalo, ʻe fai pē ʻe ia.
14 For he will bring to completion what hath been destined for me: and like these hath he many other things with him.
He te ne fakakakato hoku ʻinasi kuo tuʻutuʻuni: pea ʻoku lahi ʻae meʻa pehē ʻiate ia.
15 Therefore am I terrified at his presence: I will reflect, and be in dread of him.
Ko ia ʻoku ou manavahē ai ʻi hono ʻao: pea kau ka fakakaukau, ʻoku ou ilifia kiate ia.
16 Still God hath made timid my heart, and the Almighty hath terrified me;
He ʻoku fakamolū hoku loto ʻe he ʻOtua, pea ʻoku fakamamahiʻi au ʻe he Māfimafi:
17 Because I was not destroyed before this darkness, and because he hath not hidden from my face [this] gloom.
Koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai tuʻusi au ʻi he teʻeki hoko ʻae fakapoʻuli, ʻo ʻikai ʻufiʻufi ʻe ia ʻae poʻuli mei hoku mata.
