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 to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than 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! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!

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

I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

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

I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] 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 righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

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

Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

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

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:

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

But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

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

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

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

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

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

But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.

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

For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.

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

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

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

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.