Siope 11

1 Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Sofaa mei Neama, ʻo ne pehē,

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

2 “ʻIkai ʻoku totonu ke tali ʻae ngaahi lea lahi ni? Pea ʻe fakatonuhiaʻi koe ʻae tangata faʻa lau?

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

3 ‌ʻE fakalongoʻi ʻae kakai ʻe hoʻo ngaahi loi? Pea ʻi hoʻo manuki, ʻe ʻikai fakamā koe ʻe ha taha?

Should your lies make men hold their peace? and when you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

4 He kuo ke pehē, ‘Ko ʻeku akonaki ʻoku totonu pē, pea ʻoku ou maʻa ʻi ho ʻao.’

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in your eyes.

5 Kae taumaiā ke folofola mai ʻae ʻOtua, ʻo ne faʻai hono fofonga kiate koe;

But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you;

6 Pea ne fakahā kiate koe ʻae ngaahi meʻa lilo ʻoe poto, he ʻoku lahi hake ʻaupito ia ʻi he meʻa ʻoku hā mai! Ko ia ke ke ʻilo, ʻoku siʻi ʻae totongi ʻoku ʻeke ʻe he ʻOtua ʻi he meʻa ʻoku taau mo hoʻo angahia.

And that he would show you the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 “He te ke ʻilo ʻae ʻOtua ʻi he faʻa ʻeke? He te ke faʻa kumi ke ʻilo haohaoa ʻae Māfimafi?

Can you by searching find out God? can you find out the Almighty to perfection?

8 ‌ʻOku māʻolunga ia ʻo hangē ko e langi; ko e hā ʻaʻau te ke fai? ʻOku māʻulalo hifo ʻi heli; te ke faʻa ʻilo ʻae hā? (Sheol h7585)

It is as high as heaven; what can you do? deeper than hell; what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Ko hono fuofua ʻoku lōloa lahi ʻi he māmani, pea lau lahi ia ʻi he tahi.

The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 Kapau ʻe tuʻusi ʻe ia, pe tāpuni ke maʻu, pe tānaki fakataha, ʻe taʻofi ia ʻe hai?

If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

11 He ʻoku ne ʻiloʻi ʻae kakai vale: ʻoku ne vakai foki ki he fai kovi; pea ʻe ʻikai te ne tokangaʻi?

For he knows vain men: he sees wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

12 He ʻoku fie poto ʻae tangata vale, neongo ʻoku fanauʻi ʻae tangata ʻo hangē ko e ʻuhiki ʻoe ʻasi kai vao.

For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt.

13 “Kapau te ke teu ho loto, pea mafao atu ho nima kiate ia;

If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward him;

14 Kapau ʻoku ʻi ho nima ʻae angahala, siʻaki ia ke mamaʻo, pea ʻoua naʻa nofo ʻae kovi ʻi ho ngaahi fale.

If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tabernacles.

15 He ko ia te ke toki hanga hake ai ho mata ʻo taʻehanoʻila; ʻio, te ke tuʻumaʻu, ʻo ʻikai manavahē:

For then shall you lift up your face without spot; yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

16 He te ke fakangaloʻi hoʻo mamahi, ʻo manatuʻi ia ʻo hangē ko e ngaahi vai kuo tafe atu:

Because you shall forget your misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

17 Pea ʻe ʻāsinisini lahi hoʻo motuʻa ʻi he hoʻatāmālie ʻoe ʻaho; te ke ulo atu, te ke tatau mo e pongipongi.

And your age shall be clearer than the noonday: you shall shine forth, you shall be as the morning.

18 Pea te ke fiemālie koe, he ʻoku ai ʻae ʻamanaki lelei; ʻio, te ke keli, ʻo mālōlō fiemālie pe.

And you shall be secure, because there is hope; yes, you shall dig about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

19 Pea te ke tokoto foki, pea ʻe ʻikai fakamanavahēʻi koe ʻe ha taha; ʻio, ʻe kumi meʻa meiate koe ʻe he tokolahi.

Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall make suit to you.

20 Ka ʻe vaivai ʻae mata ʻoe angahala, pea ʻe ʻikai te nau hao, pea ko e ifi ʻoe mānava ʻa ʻenau ʻamanaki.”

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.