1 K atahi ka whakautua e Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

2 N a kona oku whakaaro i whakahoki kupu ake ai i roto i ahau; na reira ano ahau i hohoro ai.

“Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.

3 K ua rongo ahau i te whakahe moku, e pa ai te whakama ki ahau, a na te wairua o toku ngakau mahara te kupu whakahoki ki ahau.

I have heard the reproof which puts me to shame. The spirit of my understanding answers me.

4 K ahore ranei koe i mohio ki tenei i mua noa atu, i te wa ra ano i whakanohoia ai te tangata ki runga ki te whenua;

Don’t you know this from old time, since man was placed on earth,

5 H e poto te wa e whakamanamana ai te tangata kino, a ko te hari o te tangata atuakore he wheriko kau?

that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?

6 A hakoa eke noa tona nui ki nga rangi, a pa atu tona mahunga ki nga kapua;

Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach to the clouds,

7 K a memeha atu ano ia a ake ake, ka pera ano me tona paru: ko te hunga kua kite i a ia, ka mea, Kei hea ia?

yet he shall perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him shall say, ‘Where is he?’

8 K a rere atu ia ano he moemoea, e kore ano hoki e kitea: ae ka aia atu ia, ano he rekanga kanohi no te po.

He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found. Yes, he shall be chased away like a vision of the night.

9 K o te kanohi i kite i a ia e kore e kite ano; a heoi ano tirohanga a tona wahi ki a ia.

The eye which saw him shall see him no more, neither shall his place any more see him.

10 E whakamanawareka ana tamariki i nga rawakore, ma ona ringa ano e whakahoki ona rawa.

His children shall seek the favor of the poor. His hands shall give back his wealth.

11 E ki ana ona wheua i te tamarikitanga; engari ka takoto tahi me ia i roto i te puehu.

His bones are full of his youth, but youth shall lie down with him in the dust.

12 A hakoa reka te kino i roto i tona mangai, ahakoa huna e ia i raro i tona arero;

“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,

13 A hakoa manawapatia noatia e ia, a kahore e mahue i a ia, heoi pupuri tonu i roto i tona mangai;

though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;

14 O tira ka puta ke tana kai i roto i ona whekau, ko te au o nga ahipi i roto i a ia.

yet his food in his bowels is turned. It is cobra venom within him.

15 I horomia e ia te taonga, ka ruakina mai ano e ia; ma te Atua e akiri mai i roto i tona kopu.

He has swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again. God will cast them out of his belly.

16 K a ngotea e ia te huware whakamate o nga ahipi; ka mate ano ia i te arero o te waipera.

He shall suck cobra venom. The viper’s tongue shall kill him.

17 E kore ia e kite i nga awa, i nga wai rere o te honi, o te pata.

He shall not look at the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.

18 K o tana i uaua ai ka whakahokia e ia, e kore ano e horomia; ko tana utu ka rite ki ona taonga; e kore ano e koa ki reira.

That for which he labored he shall restore, and shall not swallow it down. According to the substance that he has gotten, he shall not rejoice.

19 N ana hoki i tukino nga rawakore, whakarerea iho; murua ana e ia he whare, a e kore e hanga ano e ia.

For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.

20 I te mea kahore ia i kite i te tatutanga i roto i a ia, e kore ano etahi o nga mea e matea nuitia ana e ia e mau ki a ia.

“Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save anything of that in which he delights.

21 K ahore tetahi mea i toe i kore te horomia e ia; no reira e kore tetahi mea pai ona e mau tonu.

There was nothing left that he didn’t devour, therefore his prosperity shall not endure.

22 I a ia e whiwhi nui nei i te rawa, e rawakore ano ia; ka tae mai ki a ia nga ringa katoa o te hunga kei roto i te mata.

In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress shall overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery shall come on him.

23 I a ia ka mea ki te whakaki i tona kopu, ka maka mai e te Atua te kaha o tona riri ki runga ki a ia, a ka ringihia iho ki a ia, i a ia ano e kai ana.

When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.

24 K a rere atu ia i te patu rino, ka tu ia i te kopere parahi, puta pu.

He shall flee from the iron weapon. The bronze arrow shall strike him through.

25 E unuhia ana, kua puta mai i roto i te tinana, ina, puta mai ana te mata wheriko i roto i tona au: kua tau nga wehi ki a ia.

He draws it out, and it comes out of his body. Yes, the glittering point comes out of his liver. Terrors are on him.

26 K o te pouri katoa kei te takoto mai mo ana taonga: ka kainga ia e te ahi, kihai i puhia e te tangata; ma reira e pau ai te toenga i roto i tona teneti.

All darkness is laid up for his treasures. An unfanned fire shall devour him. It shall consume that which is left in his tent.

27 K a whakakitea mai tona he e nga rangi ka whakatika mai ano te whenua ki a ia.

The heavens shall reveal his iniquity. The earth shall rise up against him.

28 K o nga hua o tona whare ka riro: ka rere, ano he wai, ona mea i te ra e riri ai ia.

The increase of his house shall depart. They shall rush away in the day of his wrath.

29 K o ta te Atua wahi tenei ma te tangata kino, ko te taonga tupu i kiia e te Atua mona.

This is the portion of a wicked man from God, the heritage appointed to him by God.”