Job 23
1 Mgbe ahụ, Job zara sị:
Job replied,
2 “Ọ bụladị taa, mkpesa m dị ilu; aka ya dị arọ megide m nʼagbanyeghị ịsụ ude m.
“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.
3 A sịkwa na m maara ebe m ga-achọta ya; a sịkwa na m nwere ike ijeru ebe obibi ya!
If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.
4 Aga m edozi mkpesa m nʼusoro nʼihu ya were ịrụ ụka mejuo ọnụ m.
There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.
5 Aga m achọpụta ihe o ga-aza m ma tuleekwa ihe ọ ga-agwa m.
I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.
6 Ọ ga-eji ike dị egwu megide m? Mba, ọ gaghị ebo m ebubo.
Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.
7 Nʼebe ahụ, onye ziri ezi ga-eme mkpesa nʼihu ya. Nʼebe ahụ, a ga-anapụtakwa m site nʼaka onye ikpe m rụọ mgbe ebighị ebi.
There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 “Ma ọ bụrụ na m agaa nʼọwụwa anyanwụ ọ nọghị nʼebe ahụ; ọ bụrụ na m gaa nʼọdịda anyanwụ, agaghị m achọta ya.
If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.
9 Mgbe ọ nọ nʼọrụ nʼugwu anaghị m ahụ ya, mgbe ọ lọghachiri na ndịda anaghị m ahụkwa ya.
If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.
10 Ma ọ maara ụzọ m na-aga, mgbe ọ nwapụtasịrị m, aga m apụta dịka ọlaedo,
Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.
11 ụkwụ m abụọ na-agbaso nzọ ụkwụ ya; ana m eso ụzọ ya na-atụgharịghị nʼaka nri maọbụ aka ekpe.
I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.
12 Esibeghị m nʼiwu nke si nʼọnụ ya pụta wezuga onwe m; a na m echekwa okwu ọnụ ya karịa nri nke m na-eri kwa ụbọchị.
I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.
13 “Ma o guzo naanị ya, onye pụrụ iguzogide ya? Ọ na-eme ihe ọbụla masịrị ya.
But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.
14 Ọ na-emezu ụkpụrụ ya niile o zubere megide m, ọ ka nwekwara nzube ndị ọzọ yiri nke a o dobere imegide m.
So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.
15 Nʼihi ya ka obi ji ama m jijiji nʼihu ya; mgbe m chetara banyere ihe ndị a niile, ana m atụ egwu ya.
That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.
16 Chineke emeela ka obi m daa mba; Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile emeela ka m maa jijiji.
God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.
17 Ma ọchịchịrị emeghị ka m mechie ọnụ m, bụ oke ọchịchịrị nke kpuchiri ihu m.
Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.
