Joba 23

1 Hoe ty natoi’ Iobe:

Then Job answered, and said:

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

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than 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 come even to his throne?

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

I would set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

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

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

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

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight of his greatness.

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

Let him propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

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

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall not understand him.

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

If to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall not see him.

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

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

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

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined from it.

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

I have not departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid in my bosom.

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

For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

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

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

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

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

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

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.

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

For I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.