¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

¹¶ Ano ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

²Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

²Kaua ranei hei whakautua te tini o nga kupu? A e whakatikaia ranei te tangata ngutu hohoro?

³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

³Ma au kupu whakapehapeha ranei e nohopuku ai nga tangata? A, ina tawai koe, kaua ranei he tangata e mea i a koe kia whakama?

⁴For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.

⁴E mea ana hoki koe, He tino tika taku whakaako, a he ma ahau ki ou kanohi.

⁵But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

⁵Aue, me i korero te Atua, me i puaki mai ona ngutu ki te whakahe i a koe!

⁶And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

⁶Me i whakaaturia mai e ia ki a koe nga mea ngaro o te matauranga, te huhua o nga ara o tana mahi! Na kia matau koe, he iti iho i ou he ta te Atua e tango nei i a koe.

⁷Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?

⁷¶ Ina whakatakina e koe, e kitea ranei e koe te Atua? E tino kitea rawatia ranei e koe te Kaha Rawa?

⁸It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?

⁸Kei te rangi te tiketike; ka pehea koe? Hohonu iho i te reinga; ko te aha e mohiotia e koe?

⁹The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

⁹Ko tona takoto, roa atu i te whenua, whanui atu i te moana.

¹⁰If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

¹⁰Ki te mea ka haukotia e ia, ka herehera ranei, ka whakawakia ranei, ma wai ia e arai?

¹¹For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

¹¹E mohio ana hoki ia ki nga tangata teka noa; a e kite ana ia i te he, ahakoa e kore e whakaaroa e ia.

¹²For vain men would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.

¹²Otiia ko te mea whakaarokore nei, ko te tangata kahore rawa ona hinengaro, ae ra, to te tangata rite i tona whanautanga kei te kuao kaihe mohoao.

¹³If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;

¹³¶ Ki te whakatikaia e koe tou ngakau, a ka wherahia ou ringa ki a ia;

¹⁴If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

¹⁴Ki te mea he he kei tou ringa, whakamataratia atu, kaua hoki te kino e noho ki ou tapenakara;

¹⁵For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:

¹⁵He pono ko reira ara ai tou mata, te ai he ira; ae, ka u hoki koe, te ai he wehi:

¹⁶Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

¹⁶Tera hoki koe e wareware ki tou mauiui; a e maharatia e koe ano ko nga wai kua rere atu.

¹⁷And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

¹⁷A ko tou ora tera e marama ke atu i to te poutumarotanga o ate ra; a ahakoa e pouri ano, ka rite ki te ata.

¹⁸And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

¹⁸Ka tatu ou whakaaro, no te mea ka whai tumanakohanga atu; ae, ka rapu koe i tetahi taha ou, i tetahi taha, a ka takoto marire koe.

¹⁹Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.

¹⁹E takoto iho ano koe, te ai he kaiwhakawehi; he tokomaha ano hoki e whai kia paingia e koe.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.

²⁰Ka poko ia nga kanohi o te hunga kino, kore ake he rerenga mo ratou; ko ta ratou e tumanako atu ai ko te hemonga.