Hopa 23
1 Katahi ka whakautua e Hopa, i mea ia,
Then responded Job, 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 rebellion? His hand, 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! I would come even unto his dwelling-place;
4 Ka ata whakatakotoria e ahau aku korero ki tona aroaro, ka whakakiia hoki toku mangai ki nga kupu tautohetohe.
I would set out, before him, a plea, and, my mouth, would I fill 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 note the words wherewith he would respond to me, and would mark 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, with fulness of might, contend with me? Nay, surely, he, would give heed 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 reason with him, so should I deliver myself completely 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! eastward, I go, but he is not there, and, westward, but I perceive him not;
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 north, where he worketh, but I get no vision, He hideth himself on the south 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 choose, Having tried me, as gold, I shall come forth.
11 Mau pu ona takahanga i toku waewae; u pu ahau ki tona ara, kihai hoki i peka ke.
Of his steps, my foot taketh hold, His way, have I kept, and not swerved;
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.
The command of his lips, and would not go back, and, in my bosom, have I treasured the words of his lips.
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 one, and who can turn him? What his soul desired, he hath done.
14 E whakaotia ana hoki e ia nga mea i whakaritea moku: he maha ano hoki ana mahi pera.
Surely he will accomplish what is decreed for me, and, many such things, hath he in store.
15 Koia ahau i ohorere ai i tona aroaro: ka whakaaroaro ahau, ka wehi i a ia.
For this cause, from his presence, am I driven in fear, I diligently consider and am kept back from him in dread:
16 Ngohe noa hoki toku ngakau i te Atua, ohorere ana ahau i te Kaha Rawa.
Yea, GOD, hath made timid my heart, and, the Almighty, hath put me in terror.
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, nor, before my face, did the gloom form a shroud.
