1 T hen Zophar the Naamathite replied,

Ano ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

2 S hould not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be pronounced free from guilt or blame?

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

3 S hould your boastings and babble make men keep silent? And when you mock and scoff, shall no man make you ashamed?

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

4 F or you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in eyes.

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

5 B ut oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,

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

6 A nd that He would show you the secrets of wisdom! For He is manifold in understanding! Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your guilt and iniquity.

Me 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 C an you find out the deep things of God, or can you by searching find out the limits of the Almighty ?

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

8 H is wisdom is as high as the heights of heaven! What can you do? It is deeper than Sheol (the place of the dead)! What can you know?

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

9 L onger in measure is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.

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

10 I f sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him?

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

11 F or He recognizes and knows hollow, wicked, and useless men (men of falsehood); when He sees iniquity, will He not consider it?

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

12 B ut a stupid man will get wisdom when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

Otiia 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 I f you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to,

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

14 I f you put sin out of your hand and far away from you and let not evil dwell in your tents;

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

15 T hen can you lift up your face to Him without stain; yes, you shall be steadfast and secure; you shall not fear.

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

16 F or you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.

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

17 A nd life shall be clearer than the noonday and rise above it; though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.

A 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.

18 A nd you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope; yes, you shall search about you, and you shall take your rest in safety.

Ka 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.

19 Y ou shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid; yes, many shall sue for your favor.

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

20 B ut the eyes of the wicked shall look in vain, and they shall not escape; and their hope shall be to give up the ghost.

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