< Job 23 >
Then Job answered and said,
2 “Ọ bụladị taa, mkpesa m dị ilu; aka ya dị arọ megide m nʼagbanyeghị ịsụ ude m.
Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
3 A sịkwa na m maara ebe m ga-achọta ya; a sịkwa na m nwere ike ijeru ebe obibi ya!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
4 Aga m edozi mkpesa m nʼusoro nʼihu ya were ịrụ ụka mejuo ọnụ m.
I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 Aga m achọpụta ihe o ga-aza m ma tuleekwa ihe ọ ga-agwa m.
I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Ọ ga-eji ike dị egwu megide m? Mba, ọ gaghị ebo m ebubo.
Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
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 the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from 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.
Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there; ] and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 Mgbe ọ nọ nʼọrụ nʼugwu anaghị m ahụ ya, mgbe ọ lọghachiri na ndịda anaghị m ahụkwa ya.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him: ] he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him: ]
10 Ma ọ maara ụzọ m na-aga, mgbe ọ nwapụtasịrị m, aga m apụta dịka ọlaedo,
But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 ụkwụ m abụọ na-agbaso nzọ ụkwụ ya; ana m eso ụzọ ya na-atụgharịghị nʼaka nri maọbụ aka ekpe.
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
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.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
13 “Ma o guzo naanị ya, onye pụrụ iguzogide ya? Ọ na-eme ihe ọbụla masịrị ya.
But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
14 Ọ na-emezu ụkpụrụ ya niile o zubere megide m, ọ ka nwekwara nzube ndị ọzọ yiri nke a o dobere imegide m.
For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
15 Nʼihi ya ka obi ji ama m jijiji nʼihu ya; mgbe m chetara banyere ihe ndị a niile, ana m atụ egwu ya.
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 Chineke emeela ka obi m daa mba; Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile emeela ka m maa jijiji.
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Ma ọchịchịrị emeghị ka m mechie ọnụ m, bụ oke ọchịchịrị nke kpuchiri ihu m.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.