Hopa 11

1 Ano ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

Then Sophar the Naamathite answered, and said:

2 Kaua ranei hei whakautua te tini o nga kupu? A e whakatikaia ranei te tangata ngutu hohoro?

Shall not he that speaketh much, hear also? or shall a man full of talk be justified?

3 Ma au kupu whakapehapeha ranei e nohopuku ai nga tangata? A, ina tawai koe, kaua ranei he tangata e mea i a koe kia whakama?

Shall men hold their peace to thee only? and when thou hast mocked others, shall no man confute thee?

4 E mea ana hoki koe, He tino tika taku whakaako, a he ma ahau ki ou kanohi.

For thou hast said: My word is pure, and I am clean in thy sight.

5 Aue, me i korero te Atua, me i puaki mai ona ngutu ki te whakahe i a koe!

And I wish that God would speak with thee, and would open his lips to thee,

6 Me i whakaaturia mai e ia ki a koe nga mea ngaro o te matauranga, te huhua o nga ara o tana mahi! Na kia matau koe, he iti iho i ou he ta te Atua e tango nei i a koe.

That he might shew thee the secrets of wisdom, and that his law is manifold, and thou mightest understand that he exacteth much less of thee, than thy iniquity deserveth.

7 Ina whakatakina e koe, e kitea ranei e koe te Atua? E tino kitea rawatia ranei e koe te Kaha Rawa?

Peradventure thou wilt comprehend the steps of God, and wilt find out the Almighty perfectly?

8 Kei te rangi te tiketike; ka pehea koe? Hohonu iho i te reinga; ko te aha e mohiotia e koe? (Sheol h7585)

He is higher than heaven, and what wilt thou do? he is deeper than hell, and how wilt thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Ko tona takoto, roa atu i te whenua, whanui atu i te moana.

The measure of him is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 Ki te mea ka haukotia e ia, ka herehera ranei, ka whakawakia ranei, ma wai ia e arai?

If he shall overturn all things, or shall press them together, who shall contradict him?

11 E mohio ana hoki ia ki nga tangata teka noa; a e kite ana ia i te he, ahakoa e kore e whakaaroa e ia.

For he knoweth the vanity of men, and when he seeth iniquity, doth he not consider it?

12 Otiia ko te mea whakaarokore nei, ko te tangata kahore rawa ona hinengaro, ae ra, to te tangata rite i tona whanautanga kei te kuao kaihe mohoao.

A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free like a wild ass’s colt.

13 Ki te whakatikaia e koe tou ngakau, a ka wherahia ou ringa ki a ia;

Rut thou hast hardened thy heart, and hast spread thy hands to him.

14 Ki te mea he he kei tou ringa, whakamataratia atu, kaua hoki te kino e noho ki ou tapenakara;

If thou wilt put away from thee the iniquity that is in thy hand, and lot not injustice remain in thy tabernacle:

15 He pono ko reira ara ai tou mata, te ai he ira; ae, ka u hoki koe, te ai he wehi:

Then mayst thou lift up thy face without spot, and thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear.

16 Tera hoki koe e wareware ki tou mauiui; a e maharatia e koe ano ko nga wai kua rere atu.

Thou shalt also forget misery, and remember it only as waters that are passed away.

17 A ko tou ora tera e marama ke atu i to te poutumarotanga o ate ra; a ahakoa e pouri ano, ka rite ki te ata.

And brightness like that of the noonday, shall arise to thee at evening: and when thou shalt think thyself consumed, thou shalt rise as the day star.

18 Ka tatu ou whakaaro, no te mea ka whai tumanakohanga atu; ae, ka rapu koe i tetahi taha ou, i tetahi taha, a ka takoto marire koe.

And thou shalt have confidence, hope being set before thee, and being buried thou shalt sleep secure.

19 E takoto iho ano koe, te ai he kaiwhakawehi; he tokomaha ano hoki e whai kia paingia e koe.

Thou shalt rest, and there shall be none to make thee afraid: and many shall entreat thy face.

20 Ka poko ia nga kanohi o te hunga kino, kore ake he rerenga mo ratou; ko ta ratou e tumanako atu ai ko te hemonga.

But the eyes of the wicked shall decay, and the way to escape shall fail them, and their hope the abomination of the soul.