Hopa 23

1 Katahi ka whakautua e Hopa, i mea ia,

Then Job answered by saying:

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

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

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 will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

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

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

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

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

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

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

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

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

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 to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand 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.

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not 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.

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

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

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

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I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

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.

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

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

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

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

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

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

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused 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 have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.