Hopa 29
1 A i korero tonu a Hopa i tana pepeha, i mea,
And Job again took up the word and said,
2 Aue, me i rite ki nga marama o mua, ki nga ra i tiaki ai te Atua i ahau!
If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
3 I tiaho mai ai tana rama ki toku matenga, a na tana whakamarama i haere ai ahau i te pouri:
When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
4 Me i pera ano me ahau i nga ra o toku taiohitanga, i te mea nei kei runga to te Atua whakaaro puku i toku teneti;
As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
5 I te mea e noho ana ano te Kaha Rawa i ahau, a kei tetahi taha oku aku tamariki, kei tetahi taha;
While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
6 I horoia ai oku takahanga ki te pata, a rere mai ana nga awa hinu ki ahau i roto i te kohatu!
When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
7 I toku haerenga atu ki te kuwaha ki te pa, a whakapai ana i te nohoanga moku i te waharoa,
When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
8 Ka kite nga taitamariki i ahau, a piri ana ratou: whakatika ana nga koroheke, tu ana ki runga;
The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
9 Mutu pu te korero a nga tino tangata, kua kopania te ringa ki o ratou mangai;
The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
10 Ngaro ana te reo o nga rangatira, piri ana o ratou arero ki o ratou ngao.
The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
11 No te rongonga hoki o te taringa i ahau manaaki ana i ahau; te kitenga o te kanohi i ahau, whakaae mai ana ki aku mahi:
For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
12 No te mea naku i whakaora te rawakore i a ia e karanga ana, te pani me te tangata hoki kahore nei ona kaiawhina.
For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
13 I tau ki runga ki ahau te manaaki a te tangata e tata ana ki te whakangaromanga; harakoa ana i ahau te ngakau o te pouaru.
The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
14 I kakahuria e ahau te tika, a ko tera toku kakahu: e rite ana taku whakarite whakawa he koroka, he karauna.
I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
15 He kanohi ahau ki te matapo, he waewae ki te kopa.
I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
16 He matua ahau ki nga rawakore: a i ata rapua e ahau te tikanga o te totohe a te tangata kihai nei ahau i mohio.
I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
17 Wawahia ana e ahau nga kauae o te tangata kino, a takiritia mai ana e ahau tana mea pahua i roto i ona niho.
By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
18 Katahi ahau ka mea, Tera ahau e mate i roto i toku ohanga; ka whakanuia oku ra kia rite ki te onepu te maha:
Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
19 Ko toku pakiaka tautoro tonu ki nga wai, a i te po tau ana te tomairangi ki runga ki toku peka:
My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
20 Ko toku kororia hou tonu i roto i ahau, a hoki ake ana te kaha o taku kopere i toku ringa.
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
21 I whakarongo mai nga tangata ki ahau, i tatari, whakarongo puku ana ratou i ahau e whakatakoto whakaaro ana.
Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
22 I muri i aku kupu kore ake ratou i korero ano; maturuturu iho ana aku kupu ki runga ki a ratou.
After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
23 I taria mai ahau e ratou ano ko te ua; hamama mai ana o ratou mangai ano e tatari ana ki te ua o muri.
They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
24 Ka kata ahau ki a ratou, kihai i whakaponohia e ratou; kihai hoki ratou i whakataka i te marama o toku mata.
I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
25 Naku to ratou ara i whiriwhiri, a noho ana ahau hei rangatira, noho ana hoki ahau ano he kingi i roto i te ope; i rite ahau ki te kaiwhakamarie o te hunga e tangi ana.
I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
