Joba 23
1 Hoe ty natoi’ Iobe:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Mafaitse ty toreoko henaneo, taña-miletraletra ty amy hatreontreoko.
Even to-day is my complaint bitter; my hand is become heavy because of my groaning.
3 Ehe te napotako ty hahatreavako Aze, hiheovako mb’am-piambesa’e mb’eo.
Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat!
4 Halahako aolo’e eo ty amako, vaho hatsafeko veroke ty vavako.
I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 Ho azoko ty entañe havale’e ahy, vaho ho rendreko ty hitsara’e.
I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say unto me.
6 Hatreatré’e ami’ty hara’elahin-kaozara’e hao? Aiy, f’ie ho haoñe’e.
Would He contend with me in His great power? Nay; but He would give heed unto me.
7 Mete hilahatse ama’e ty vañoñe, hamotsorañe ahy nainai’e amy Mpizakakoy.
There the upright might reason with Him; so should I be delivered for ever from my Judge.
8 Hehe te mionjon-draho, f’ie tsy eo, midisa-voly, fa tsy isako,
Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 ie mitoloñ’an-kavia, tsy treako, ie mitolike mb’àn-kavana, tsy rendreko.
On the left hand, when He doth work, but I cannot behold Him, He turneth Himself to the right hand, but I cannot see Him.
10 Fe arofoana’e ty lala fombàko, ie fa nitsoeha’e le hiboake hoe volamena.
For He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 Nahafitinoñe i lia’ey ty tomboko, nifaharako i lala’ey vaho tsy nitsile.
My foot hath held fast to His steps, His way have I kept, and turned not aside.
12 Tsy nisitahako o nafèm-pivimbi’eo; nahajako o tsaram-palie’eo mandikoatse ty anjara rimako.
I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured up the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
13 F’ie tsy roe tsy telo, ia ty hampitolik’ aze? anoe’e iaby ze satrin’arofo’e.
But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.
14 Ie ro mañeneke o atolots’ ahikoo: maro ty fanoe’e hoe Izay.
For He will perform that which is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him.
15 Aa le hirevendreven-draho añ’atrefa’e eo; izaho mitsakore, le añeveñako.
Therefore am I affrighted at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him.
16 Ampianifan’ Añahare ty troko, ampangebahebae’ i El-Sadai,
Yea, God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath affrighted me;
17 Toe tsy naitoañ’ añatrefa’ i ieñey iraho, naho nisaroña’e an-tareheko i fimoromoroñañey.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face.
