1 A no ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied,

2 K aua ranei hei whakautua te tini o nga kupu? A e whakatikaia ranei te tangata ngutu hohoro?

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

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

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

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

For you have said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in eyes.

5 A ue, me i korero te Atua, me i puaki mai ona ngutu ki te whakahe i a koe!

But oh, that God would speak, and open His lips against you,

6 M e 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.

And 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.

7 I na whakatakina e koe, e kitea ranei e koe te Atua? E tino kitea rawatia ranei e koe te Kaha Rawa?

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

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

His 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?

9 K o tona takoto, roa atu i te whenua, whanui atu i te moana.

Longer in measure is it than the earth, and broader than the sea.

10 K i te mea ka haukotia e ia, ka herehera ranei, ka whakawakia ranei, ma wai ia e arai?

If sweeps in and arrests and calls into judgment, who can hinder Him?

11 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.

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

12 O tiia 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.

But a stupid man will get wisdom when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

13 K i te whakatikaia e koe tou ngakau, a ka wherahia ou ringa ki a ia;

If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands to,

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

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

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

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

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

For you shall forget your misery; you shall remember it as waters that pass away.

17 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.

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

18 K a 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.

And 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.

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

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

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

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