Hopa 11

1 Ano ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

Then Zophar the Naamathite began speaking and said,

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

“So many words be answered, shouldn't they? Or is a person proved right by doing a lot of talking?

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?

Should all your babbling force people to keep quiet? When you mock, shouldn't someone make you feel ashamed?

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

You said, ‘What I teach is the pure truth,’ and ‘in God's eyes I am clean.’

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

If only God would speak up and tell you directly,

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.

because then he would explain to you the secrets of wisdom. True wisdom has many sides to it. God's treatment of you is far better than your guilt deserves.

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

Can you find out the mysteries of God? Can you discover all the wisdom of the Almighty?

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

It is greater than the heavens—what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

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

It extends farther than the earth, and wider than the sea.

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

If God comes and imprisons someone, or assembles the court for judgment, who can stop 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 God knows who are deceivers—when he sees someone sin, he pays attention to 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.

Stupid people will become wise when wild donkeys are born tame!

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

But if you repent and spread out your hands to pray to him,

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

if you get rid of your sins and don't let wickedness continue in your life,

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

then you would be able to hold your head high in innocence, you will be firm and unafraid.

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

You will forget your misery, remembering it only as water under the bridge.

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.

Your life will shine brighter than the noonday sun; even darkness will be like the morning.

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.

You will have confidence because there is hope; you will be protected and rest in safety.

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

You will lie down to sleep with no one to frighten you, and many will come asking for your favor.

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 will fail, they will not be able to escape, and their only hope is in death.”