1 N ana, kua kitea katoatia tenei e toku kanohi, kua rongo toku taringa, kua mohio.

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it.

2 K o ta koutou e mohio na, ko taku ano tena e mohio nei: kahore hoki ahau i hoki iho i a koutou.

What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.

3 I na, e whai kupu ano ahau ki te Kaha Rawa: a e hiahia ana ki te korerorero ki te Atua.

But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.

4 K o koutou ia, he hunga tito i te teka, he rata horihori noa koutou katoa.

But you forgers of lies, You are all worthless physicians.

5 T e pai na, me i mutu rawa a koutou korero! Ko to koutou whakaaro nui hoki tena.

Oh, that you would be silent, And it would be your wisdom!

6 T ena ra, whakarongo mai ki taku tautohe, maharatia nga whawhai a oku ngutu.

Now hear my reasoning, And heed the pleadings of my lips.

7 M e tautoko ta te Atua ki te kupu kino? me tautoko ranei tana ki te tinihanga?

Will you speak wickedly for God, And talk deceitfully for Him?

8 K a whakapai kanohi koia koutou ki a ia? Ma koutou ranei ta te Atua tautohe?

Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God?

9 H e pai ranei kia rapua ta koutou e ia? E maminga ranei koutou ki a ia, e pera me tetahi ka maminga nei ki te tangata?

Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man?

10 H e pono ka whakahe ia ki a koutou ki te whakapai puku koutou i te kanohi.

He will surely rebuke you If you secretly show partiality.

11 E kore ranei koutou e mataku ki tona nui? E kore ranei te wehi ki a ia e tau ki a koutou?

Will not His excellence make you afraid, And the dread of Him fall upon you?

12 K o a koutou pepeha nunui he whakatauki no te pungarehu, ko o koutou parepare he parepare paru.

Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 K ati te korero, waiho noa iho ahau, kia korero ai ahau, ahakoa pa mai te aha ki ahau.

“Hold your peace with me, and let me speak, Then let come on me what may!

14 H e aha oku kikokiko i ngaua ai e oku niho? He aha toku wairua i waiho ai e ahau i roto i toku ringa?

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

15 A hakoa whakamate noa ia i ahau, ka tatari tonu ahau ki a ia: otiia ka mau tonu ahau ki oku ara i tona aroaro.

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

16 K o tenei hoki hei oranga moku; e kore hoki te tangata atuakore e tae mai ki tona aroaro.

He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

17 A ta whakarongo ki aku korero: kia anga mai o koutou taringa ki taku e whakapuaki nei.

Listen carefully to my speech, And to my declaration with your ears.

18 N a kua takoto taku mo te whakawa; e mohio ana ahau he tika ahau.

See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated.

19 K o wai ia hei totohe ki ahau? Ka whakarongo puku hoki ahau aianei, a ka hemo ahau.

Who is he who will contend with me? If now I hold my tongue, I perish. Job’s Despondent Prayer

20 E ngari kaua nga mea e rua e meatia mai ki ahau; katahi ahau ka kore e huna i ahau i tou mata.

“Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide myself from You:

21 K ia matara atu tou ringa ki tawhiti i ahau; a kaua ahau e whakawehia e te mataku ki a koe.

Withdraw Your hand far from me, And let not the dread of You make me afraid.

22 K o reira, mau e karanga, a maku e whakao atu; maku ranei e korero, a mau e whakahoki kupu mai ki ahau.

Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

23 K a hia ra oku kino, oku hara? Meinga ahau kia matau ki toku he me toku hara.

How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.

24 H e aha tou mata i huna ai e koe? He aha ahau i kiia ai e koe he hoariri?

Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy?

25 E kapokapohia ranei e koe te pakawha e puhia haeretia ana? E whaia ranei e koe te papapa maroke?

Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble?

26 K ei te tuhituhi na hoki koe i nga mea kawa moku, e mea ana hoki kia riro mai i ahau nga he o toku taitamarikitanga.

For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

27 K arapitia iho e koe oku waewae ki te rakau, he mea tohu nau oku ara katoa, a he mea tuhi nau oku takahanga waewae tawhio noa:

You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

28 A hakoa toku rite kei te mea pirau, e memeha noa ana, kei te kakahu e kainga ana e te purehurehu.

“ Man decays like a rotten thing, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.