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

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered,

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

“Shall a multitude of words go unanswered, And a talkative man be acquitted?

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?

“Shall your boasts silence men? And shall you scoff and none rebuke?

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

“For you have said, ‘My teaching is pure, And I am innocent in your eyes.’

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

“But would that God might 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 show you the secrets of wisdom! For sound wisdom has two sides. Know then that God forgets a part of your 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 discover the depths of God? Can you discover 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?

“ They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?

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

“Its measure is longer 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 He passes by or shuts up, Or calls an assembly, who can restrain 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 knows false men, And He sees iniquity without investigating.

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.

“ An idiot will become intelligent When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

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

“ If you would direct your heart right And spread out your hand to Him,

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

If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, And do not let wickedness 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, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect, And you would be steadfast and 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 would forget your trouble, As waters that have passed by, you would remember it.

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.

“Your life would be brighter than noonday; Darkness would be like 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.

“Then you would trust, because there is hope; And you would look around and rest securely.

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

“You would lie down and none would disturb you, And many would entreat 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 will fail, And there will be no escape for them; And their hope is to breathe their last.”