¹Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

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

²“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? 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 your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you 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 you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your 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 you,

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

⁶that 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.

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.

⁷“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

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

⁸They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol Sheol is the place of the dead. . What can you know?

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

⁹Its measure 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 passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

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

¹¹For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t 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.

¹²An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’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.

¹³“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

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

¹⁴If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

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

¹⁵Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

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

¹⁶for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

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

¹⁷Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall 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.

¹⁸You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your 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 you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor.

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. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.”

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.