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.

Now also my words are in bitterness, and the hand of my scourge is more grievous than 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 come 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 set judgment before him, and would fill my mouth with complaints.

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

That I might know the words that he would answer me, and understand 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.

I would not that he should contend with me with much strength, nor overwhelm me with the weight 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 propose equity against me, and let my judgment come to victory.

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

But if I go to the east, he appeareth not; if to the west, I shall 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 to the left hand, what shall I do? I shall not take hold on him: if I turn myself to the right hand, I shall 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.

But he knoweth my way, and has tried me as gold that passeth through the fire:

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

My foot hath followed his steps, I have kept his way, and have not declined 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 departed from the commandments of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hid 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.

For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

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

And when he shall have fulfilled his will in me, many other like things are also at hand with him.

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

And therefore I am troubled at his presence, and when I consider him I am made pensive with fear.

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

God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath 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 have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face.