Iyyoob 23

1 Iyyoob akkana jedhee deebise:

Then Job replied again,

2 “Harʼa iyyuu guungummiin koo hadhaaʼaa dha; yoo ani akkam aade iyyuu harki isaa natti ulfaateera.

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

3 Ani utuun iddoo itti isa argadhu beekee, utuu iddoo inni jiraatu illee dhaquu dandaʼee!

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

4 Silaa dhimma koo fuula isaa duratti dhiʼeeffadhee afaan koo falmiin guuttadha ture.

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

5 Waan inni naa deebisu nan beekan ture; waan inni naan jedhus nan hubadhan ture.

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

6 Inni humna isaa guddaa sanaan anaan mormaa? Lakki, na dhaggeeffata malee.

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

7 Namni qajeelaan achuma fuula isaa duratti dhimma isaa ni dhiʼeeffata; anis isa natti muru jalaa bara baraan nan baʼa.

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

8 “Garuu yoo ani gara baʼa biiftuu deeme, inni achi hin jiru; ani yoo gara dhiʼaa dhaqes achitti isa hin argadhu.

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

9 Yommuu inni kaabatti hojii irra jirutti ani isa hin argu; yommuu inni gara kibbaatti deebiʼuttis ani hamma libsuu ijaa isa arguu hin dandaʼu.

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

10 Inni garuu karaa ani baʼu ni beeka; yommuu inni na qoruttis ani akka warqee taʼee nan mulʼadha.

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

11 Miilli koo tarkaanfii isaatti dhiʼaatee duukaa buʼeera; ani utuun irraa hin gorin karaa isaa eegeera.

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

12 Ani ajaja afaan isaa irraa hin fagaanne; nyaata guyyaa guyyaa caalaas dubbii afaan isaa nan jaalladha.

I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

13 “Inni garuu of dandaʼee kophaa isaa dhaabata; kan isaan mormuu dandaʼu eenyu? Inni waanuma jaallatu hojjeta.

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

14 Inni waan natti mure ni raawwata; amma illee karoora akkanaa hedduu yaada isaa keessaa qaba.

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

15 Wanni ani fuula isaa duratti naʼuufis kanuma; ani yommuun waan kana hunda yaadutti isa nan sodaadha.

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

16 Waaqni garaa koo ni raase; Waaqni Waan Hunda Dandaʼu na sodaachise.

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

17 Haa taʼu malee dukkanni, dukkanni limixiin fuula koo haguugu iyyuu na hin barbadeessine.

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”