Hopa 23

1 Katahi ka whakautua e Hopa, i mea ia,

Then Job answered 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.

Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon 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!

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

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

And I would plead my own cause, and he would 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.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

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

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

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

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

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

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

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 wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

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 knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

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

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

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.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

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.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

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

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

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

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

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

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 knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.