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

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

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 someone ventures to talk with you, will you 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, you have instructed many, you have 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.

Your words have supported him who was falling, You have made firm 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 it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are 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?

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

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

“Remember, now, whoever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright 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.

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, 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. By the blast of his anger are they 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, 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. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

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

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

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

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

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

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

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

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood 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,

It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

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 puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

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, those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before 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.

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any 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.

Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’