Hopa 23

1 Katahi ka whakautua e Hopa, i mea ia,

Then Job answered:

2 I tenei ra nei ano e amuamu ana taku tangi: nui noa atu i taku aue te taimaha o te patunga i ahau.

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

3 Aue, me i mohio ahau ki te wahi e kite ai ahau i a ia, kia tae rawa atu ai ahau ki tona nohoanga!

If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

4 Ka ata whakatakotoria e ahau aku korero ki tona aroaro, ka whakakiia hoki toku mangai ki nga kupu tautohetohe.

I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Ka mohio ahau ki nga kupu e whakahokia mai e ia ki ahau, ka marama hoki tana e mea ai ki ahau.

I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

6 E whakaputaina mai ranei tona kaha nui ina tautohetohe ki ahau? Kahore; engari ka whai whakaaro ia ki ahau.

Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

7 Ko reira te tangata tika tautohetohe ai ki a ia: a ora tonu ake ahau i toku kaiwhakawa ake tonu atu.

Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

8 Nana, haere ana ahau ki mua, a kahore ia i reira; ki muri, heoi kahore ahau e kite i a ia:

If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

9 Ki maui, ina ka mahi ia, heoi kahore ahau e kite i a ia; e huna ana ia i a ia ano i te taha ki matau, te kite ahau i a ia.

When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

10 Otiia e mohio ana ia ki te ara e anga atu ai ahau: kia oti ahau te titiro iho e ia, ano he koura ahau i toku putanga mai.

Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

11 Mau pu ona takahanga i toku waewae; u pu ahau ki tona ara, kihai hoki i peka ke.

My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

12 Kihai hoki i mahue i ahau te whakahau a ona ngutu; ko nga kupu a tona mangai rongoa rawa ki ahau, nui atu i te kai i rite maku.

I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

13 Ko ia, kotahi tonu tona whakaaro, a ma wai ia e whakatahuri ke? Ko ta tona ngakau hoki i hiahia ai e meatia ana e ia.

But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

14 E whakaotia ana hoki e ia nga mea i whakaritea moku: he maha ano hoki ana mahi pera.

For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

15 Koia ahau i ohorere ai i tona aroaro: ka whakaaroaro ahau, ka wehi i a ia.

Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

16 Ngohe noa hoki toku ngakau i te Atua, ohorere ana ahau i te Kaha Rawa.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

17 Kihai nei hoki ahau i whakangaromia i mua o te pouri, kihai hoki i hipokina e ia te pouri i toku aroaro.

Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.