Job 23

1 And Job made answer and said,

Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Siope, ʻo ne pehē,

2 Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

3 If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

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

4 I would put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

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

5 I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

6 Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

7 There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

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

8 See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

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

9 I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

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:

10 For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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.

11 My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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

12 I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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.

13 But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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.

14 For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

15 For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

16 For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

17 For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.

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