Joba 23

1 Dia namaly Joba ka nanao hoe:

Job replied,

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

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

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

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

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

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

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

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

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

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

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

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

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

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

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

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

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

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

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

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

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

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

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

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

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

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

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

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

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.