Joba 23

1 Dia namaly Joba ka nanao hoe:

And Job answers and says:

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

“Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

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

O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

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

I arrange the cause before Him, And fill my mouth [with] arguments.

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

I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

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

Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

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

There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

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

Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

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

[To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

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

For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

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

My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

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

The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

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

And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

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

For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

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

Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

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

For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”