1 K atahi a Eripata Temani ka oho, ka mea,

¶ Then Eliphaz, the Temanite, answered and said,

2 K i te anga matou ki te korero ki a koe, e pouri ranei koe? otira e taea e wai te pehi te kupu?

If we attempt to commune with thee, thou wilt be grieved. But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 N ana, he tokomaha i whakaakona e koe: nau hoki i whakakaha nga ringa kahakore.

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.

4 A ra ana i au kupu te tangata e hinga ana; nau hoki i kaha ai nga turi kua piko.

Thy words have upheld the one that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

5 I naianei kua tae mai ki a koe, a e hemo ana koe: e pa ana ki a koe, ohorere ana koe.

But now that it is come upon thee, thou art grieved; it touches thee, and thou art troubled.

6 H e taka ianei kei tou wehi ki te Atua he okiokinga whakaaro mou? Kei te tapatahi o ou huarahi he tumanakohanga mou?

Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the integrity of thy ways?

7 M aharatia ra, ko wai o nga tangata harakore i huna? I ngaro ranei ki hea te hunga tika?

¶ Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the righteous cut off?

8 K o taku hoki tenei i kite ai, ko te hunga e parau ana i te he, e rua ana i te raruraru, ko ia ra ano ta ratou e kokoti ai.

Even as I have seen, those that plow iniquity and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9 H una ana ratou e te ha o te Atua, moti iho ratou i te hau o tona riri.

By the breath of God they perish, and by the spirit of his anger they are consumed.

10 K o te hamama o te raiona, ko te reo o te raiona tutu, ko nga niho o nga kuao raiona, whati ana.

The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11 N garo ana te raiona katua i te kore kai, a marara noa atu nga kuao a te raiona.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.

12 N a i kawea pukutia mai he korero ki ahau, a kapohia ana e toku taringa he komuhumuhu.

¶ Now the matter was also hidden from me, but my ear has perceived a little of it.

13 I nga whakaaroaronga, no nga kite o te po, i te mea ka au iho te moe a te tangata,

In imaginations of visions of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men,

14 K a pa te wehi ki ahau, me te ihiihi, a wiri ana oku wheua katoa.

fear came upon me and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

15 N a ka tika atu he wairua i toku aroaro, tutu ana nga huruhuru o toku kikokiko.

Then a spirit passed before me which caused the hair of my flesh to stand up.

16 T u ana ia, otiia kihai ahau i mohio ki tona mata; he ahua te mea i toku aroaro: tu puku ana; na ka rongo ahau i te reo e ki ana,

A ghost stood in front of me, whose face I did not recognize, and I heard it say,

17 H e nui atu ranei te tika o te tangata i to te Atua? He nui atu ranei i to tona Kaihanga to ma o te tangata?

Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker?

18 N ana, kahore rawa ia e whakawhirinaki ki ana pononga; a ki tana, he he kei ana anahera.

Behold, he put no trust in his slaves, and his angels he charged with folly.

19 T era atu to te hunga e noho ana i roto i nga whare uku, he puehu to ratou turanga; mongamonga kau ratou i te aroaro o te purehurehu.

How much more with those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who shall be crushed by the moth!

20 I waenganui o te ata, o te ahiahi, ka whakangaromia ratou; huna ana ratou ake tonu atu, te ai tetahi hei whakaaro atu.

They are destroyed from morning to evening; they perish for ever without anyone regarding it.

21 K ahore ranei to ratou taura here teneti i motuhia i roto i a ratou? Mate ana ratou, kahore hoki he matauranga.

Does their beauty perish with them? They die and do not know.