Siope 23

1 Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Siope, ʻo ne pehē,

Then Job answered,

2 “ʻOku kona ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku mamahi, ʻio, ʻi he ʻaho ni: pea mamafa lahi hoku tā ʻi heʻeku faʻa toʻe.

"Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

3 Taumaiā ke u ʻilo ʻae potu te u maʻu ai ia! Ke u aʻu atu ki hono nofoʻanga!

Oh that I knew where I might find him. That I might come even to his seat.

4 Te u fakamatala ʻeku meʻa ʻi hono ʻao, ʻo fakafonu hoku ngutu ʻaki ʻae ngaahi lea fakamamafa.

I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Te u ʻilo ai ʻae ngaahi lea te ne tali ʻaki au, pea u faʻa ʻilo ʻaia te ne lea ʻaki mai kiate au.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

6 He te ne fai mo au ʻaki hono mālohi lahi? ʻIkai: ka te ne ʻai ʻae mālohi kiate au.

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

7 ‌ʻE faʻa alea ai mo ia ʻae māʻoniʻoni; pea ʻe fakamoʻui taʻengata ai au mei hoku fakamaau.

There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

8 “Vakai, ʻoku ou ʻalu atu, ka ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ia; pea ʻoku ou foki mai, kae ʻikai te u ʻiloʻi ia:

"If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can't find him;

9 Ki he toʻohema, ʻoku ne ngāue ai, kae ʻikai te u sio ki ai: pea ʻoku ne fufū ia ʻi he toʻomataʻu, ke ʻoua naʻaku ʻilo ia:

He works to the north, but I can't see him. He turns south, but I can't catch a glimpse of him.

10 Ka ʻoku ne ʻilo ʻae hala ʻoku ou ʻalu ai: pea ka ʻosi ʻene ʻahiʻahiʻi au, te u hao mai ʻo hangē ko e koula.

But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

11 Kuo puke maʻu ʻe hoku vaʻe ki hono lakaʻanga, pea kuo u ʻalu ʻi hono hala, ʻo ʻikai afe.

My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside.

12 Pea naʻe ʻikai te u foki mai mei he fekau ʻa hono fofonga: kuo u fufū ʻi hoku loto ʻae ngaahi lea ʻa hono fofonga.

I haven't gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 Ka ʻoku pehē ai pe ia pea ko hai te ne liliu ia? Pea ko ia ʻoku tokanga ki ai hono finangalo, ʻe fai pē ʻe ia.

But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

14 He te ne fakakakato hoku ʻinasi kuo tuʻutuʻuni: pea ʻoku lahi ʻae meʻa pehē ʻiate ia.

For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

15 Ko ia ʻoku ou manavahē ai ʻi hono ʻao: pea kau ka fakakaukau, ʻoku ou ilifia kiate ia.

Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 He ʻoku fakamolū hoku loto ʻe he ʻOtua, pea ʻoku fakamamahiʻi au ʻe he Māfimafi:

For God has made my heart faint. Shaddai has terrified me.

17 Koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai tuʻusi au ʻi he teʻeki hoko ʻae fakapoʻuli, ʻo ʻikai ʻufiʻufi ʻe ia ʻae poʻuli mei hoku mata.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.