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.
Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than 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!
Oh that I knew where I might find him! [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 order [my] cause 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 know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 E whakaputaina mai ranei tona kaha nui ina tautohetohe ki ahau? Kahore; engari ka whai whakaaro ia ki ahau.
Will he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
7 Ko reira te tangata tika tautohetohe ai ki a ia: a ora tonu ake ahau i toku kaiwhakawa ake tonu atu.
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered 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:
Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there; ] and backward, but I cannot perceive 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.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him: ] he hideth himself on the right hand, that 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.
But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 Mau pu ona takahanga i toku waewae; u pu ahau ki tona ara, kihai hoki i peka ke.
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
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 have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
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] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
14 E whakaotia ana hoki e ia nga mea i whakaritea moku: he maha ano hoki ana mahi pera.
For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
15 Koia ahau i ohorere ai i tona aroaro: ka whakaaroaro ahau, ka wehi i a ia.
Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
16 Ngohe noa hoki toku ngakau i te Atua, ohorere ana ahau i te Kaha Rawa.
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
17 Kihai nei hoki ahau i whakangaromia i mua o te pouri, kihai hoki i hipokina e ia te pouri i toku aroaro.
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
