< Job 23 >
And Job answers and says:
2 “Ọ bụladị taa, mkpesa m dị ilu; aka ya dị arọ megide m nʼagbanyeghị ịsụ ude m.
“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.
3 A sịkwa na m maara ebe m ga-achọta ya; a sịkwa na m nwere ike ijeru ebe obibi ya!
O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,
4 Aga m edozi mkpesa m nʼusoro nʼihu ya were ịrụ ụka mejuo ọnụ m.
I arrange the 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 know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.
6 Ọ ga-eji ike dị egwu megide m? Mba, ọ gaghị ebo m ebubo.
Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] 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 upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.
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—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.
9 Mgbe ọ nọ nʼọrụ nʼugwu anaghị m ahụ ya, mgbe ọ lọghachiri na ndịda anaghị m ahụkwa ya.
[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.
10 Ma ọ maara ụzọ m na-aga, mgbe ọ nwapụtasịrị m, aga m apụta dịka ọlaedo,
For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go 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 has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn 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.
The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.
13 “Ma o guzo naanị ya, onye pụrụ iguzogide ya? Ọ na-eme ihe ọbụla masịrị ya.
And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].
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 completes my portion, 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, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.
16 Chineke emeela ka obi m daa mba; Onye pụrụ ime ihe niile emeela ka m maa jijiji.
And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.
17 Ma ọchịchịrị emeghị ka m mechie ọnụ m, bụ oke ọchịchịrị nke kpuchiri ihu m.
For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”