Joba 23

1 Hoe ty natoi’ Iobe:

Then Job answered by saying:

2 Mafaitse ty toreoko henaneo, taña-miletraletra ty amy hatreontreoko.

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

3 Ehe te napotako ty hahatreavako Aze, hiheovako mb’am-piambesa’e mb’eo.

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

4 Halahako aolo’e eo ty amako, vaho hatsafeko veroke ty vavako.

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

5 Ho azoko ty entañe havale’e ahy, vaho ho rendreko ty hitsara’e.

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

6 Hatreatré’e ami’ty hara’elahin-kaozara’e hao? Aiy, f’ie ho haoñe’e.

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

7 Mete hilahatse ama’e ty vañoñe, hamotsorañe ahy nainai’e amy Mpizakakoy.

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

8 Hehe te mionjon-draho, f’ie tsy eo, midisa-voly, fa tsy isako,

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

9 ie mitoloñ’an-kavia, tsy treako, ie mitolike mb’àn-kavana, tsy rendreko.

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 Fe arofoana’e ty lala fombàko, ie fa nitsoeha’e le hiboake hoe volamena.

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

11 Nahafitinoñe i lia’ey ty tomboko, nifaharako i lala’ey vaho tsy nitsile.

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

12 Tsy nisitahako o nafèm-pivimbi’eo; nahajako o tsaram-palie’eo mandikoatse ty anjara rimako.

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

13 F’ie tsy roe tsy telo, ia ty hampitolik’ aze? anoe’e iaby ze satrin’arofo’e.

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

14 Ie ro mañeneke o atolots’ ahikoo: maro ty fanoe’e hoe Izay.

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

15 Aa le hirevendreven-draho añ’atrefa’e eo; izaho mitsakore, le añeveñako.

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

16 Ampianifan’ Añahare ty troko, ampangebahebae’ i El-Sadai,

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

17 Toe tsy naitoañ’ añatrefa’ i ieñey iraho, naho nisaroña’e an-tareheko i fimoromoroñañey.

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