Joba 23

1 Dia namaly Joba ka nanao hoe:

Then Job answered and said,

2 Mbola atao ho fikomianao ihany ny fitarainako; Ny tanana mamely ahy dia mitambesatra amin’ ny fisentoako.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Enga anie ka ho fantatro izay hahitako Azy ka ho tonga any amin’ ny fitoerany aza!

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 Dia handahatra ny teniko eo anatrehany aho. Ka hofenoiko ny teny alahatro ny vavako;

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Ary hahalala izay teny havaliny ahy aho sy hamantatra izay holazainy amiko.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Hery lehibe va no handaharany teny amiko? Tsia, fa Izy indrindra no hihaino ahy

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Fa amin’ izany dia olona marina no ho nifandahatra taminy; Ka dia ho nanan-drariny mihitsy aho tamin’ ny Mpitsara ahy.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 Indro, miantsinanana aho, fa tsy any Izy; Ary miankandrefana aho, fa tsy hitako Izy;

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 Mianavaratra amin’ izay iasany aho, fa tsy tazako Izy; Mivily any atsimo Izy, ka tsy hitako.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 Fa mahalala ny lalana falehako Izy; Raha hizahany toetra aho, dia hivoaka tahaka ny volamena.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 Ny tongotro nifikitra tamin’ ny lalany; Eny, ny lalany no nizorako tsara, ka tsy nivily aho.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Ny didin’ ny molony tsy mba nialako; Ny tenin’ ny vavany noraketiko mihoatra noho ny faniriako.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 Nefa tsy miova saina Izy, iza no mahasakana Azy? Fa na inona na inona irin’ ny fanahiny dia ataony.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 Eny, manatanteraka izay voatendry ho ahy Izy; Ary zavatra maro toy izany no ao aminy;

15 Roa Izany no mampangovitra ahy eo anatrehany; Raha misaintsaina izany aho, dia matahotra Azy.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 Fa Andriamanitra no mandrerakany foko, ary ny Tsitoha no mampangovitra ahy;

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Fa tsy ny fahamaizinana no maharesy ahy, na ny maizim-pito izay manarona ny tavako.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.