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

“See, 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 less than 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 wish to speak to the All-powerful. I want to argue with God.

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

But you cover things with lies. You are doctors of no worth.

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

If only you would be quiet, and that would show your wisdom!

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

Hear what I think. Listen to the arguing of my lips.

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

Will you say what is not true for God? Will you lie for Him?

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

Will you show favor for Him? Will you argue 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 tests you? Or do you lie to Him as one lies to a man?

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

For sure He will speak strong words to you if you show favor in secret.

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 great power make you afraid? Will not the fear of Him come upon you?

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

Your wise sayings are sayings of ashes. Your strength is the strength of clay.

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

“Be quiet so that I may speak. Then let come on me what will.

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 should 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.

Even though He would kill me, yet I will trust in Him. I will argue my ways to His face.

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

This will save me, for a sinful man may not come to Him.

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

Be careful to listen to my words. Let what I say fill your ears.

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

See, I am ready to tell everything, and all will know I am right.

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

Who will talk against me? For then I would be quiet and die.

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 I ask of You, and then I will not hide from Your face.

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

Take Your hand from me, and do not let the fear of You make me so 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, and You answer me.

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

How many are my sins and wrong-doings? Help me to know my wrong-doing and 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 think of me as one who hates You?

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

Will You make a wind-blown leaf afraid? Will You go after the dry parts of a grain-field that have no worth?

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. You punish me for the sins I did when I was young.

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 chains on my feet, and watch everything I do. You let me walk only so far.

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

I am wasting away like a piece of dead wood, like clothing eaten by the moth.