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.

“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.

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

Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!

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

I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.

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

Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to 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 person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

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

See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.

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

To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

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

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

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

My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

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

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

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

But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.

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

For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.

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

Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

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

For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.

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

I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.