Hopa 23

1 Katahi ka whakautua e Hopa, i mea ia,

And Job made answer and said,

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 outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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 had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even 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 put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of 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 see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever 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:

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see 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.

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to 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.

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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 never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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 his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.