< Siope 11 >

1 Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Sofaa mei Neama, ʻo ne pehē,
Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,
2 “ʻIkai ʻoku totonu ke tali ʻae ngaahi lea lahi ni? Pea ʻe fakatonuhiaʻi koe ʻae tangata faʻa lau?
“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? 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 boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, will 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 say, ‘My doctrine is pure. 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.
that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. 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 fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
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)
They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol. What can you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Ko hono fuofua ʻoku lōloa lahi ʻi he māmani, pea lau lahi ia ʻi he tahi.
Its measure 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 passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose 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 false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.
12 He ʻoku fie poto ʻae tangata vale, neongo ʻoku fanauʻi ʻae tangata ʻo hangē ko e ʻuhiki ʻoe ʻasi kai vao.
An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.
13 “Kapau te ke teu ho loto, pea mafao atu ho nima kiate ia;
“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands towards 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 is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.
15 He ko ia te ke toki hanga hake ai ho mata ʻo taʻehanoʻila; ʻio, te ke tuʻumaʻu, ʻo ʻikai manavahē:
Surely then you will lift up your face without spot. Yes, you will be steadfast, and will not fear,
16 He te ke fakangaloʻi hoʻo mamahi, ʻo manatuʻi ia ʻo hangē ko e ngaahi vai kuo tafe atu:
for you will forget your misery. You will remember it like waters that have passed away.
17 Pea ʻe ʻāsinisini lahi hoʻo motuʻa ʻi he hoʻatāmālie ʻoe ʻaho; te ke ulo atu, te ke tatau mo e pongipongi.
Life will be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it will be as the morning.
18 Pea te ke fiemālie koe, he ʻoku ai ʻae ʻamanaki lelei; ʻio, te ke keli, ʻo mālōlō fiemālie pe.
You will be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you will search, and will 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 will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Yes, many will court your favour.
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 will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”

< Siope 11 >