Joba 23

1 Dia namaly Joba ka nanao hoe:

Then Job answered by saying:

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

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

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

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

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

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

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

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

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

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

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

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

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

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

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

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

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

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

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

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

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

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

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

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

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

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

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

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

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

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

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

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.