Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Siope, ʻo ne pehē,
2 Even today is my complaint rebellious: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
“ʻOku kona ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku mamahi, ʻio, ʻi he ʻaho ni: pea mamafa lahi hoku tā ʻi heʻeku faʻa toʻe.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, 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 order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Te u fakamatala ʻeku meʻa ʻi hono ʻao, ʻo fakafonu hoku ngutu ʻaki ʻae ngaahi lea fakamamafa.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto 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 contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
He te ne fai mo au ʻaki hono mālohi lahi? ʻIkai: ka te ne ʻai ʻae mālohi kiate au.
7 There the upright might reason with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
ʻE faʻa alea ai mo ia ʻae māʻoniʻoni; pea ʻe fakamoʻui taʻengata ai au mei hoku fakamaau.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
“Vakai, ʻoku ou ʻalu atu, ka ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ia; pea ʻoku ou foki mai, kae ʻikai te u ʻiloʻi ia:
9 On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot 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 But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as 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 foot hath held fast to his steps; his way have I kept, and turned not aside.
Kuo puke maʻu ʻe hoku vaʻe ki hono lakaʻanga, pea kuo u ʻalu ʻi hono hala, ʻo ʻikai afe.
12 I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
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 he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
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 he performeth that which is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
He te ne fakakakato hoku ʻinasi kuo tuʻutuʻuni: pea ʻoku lahi ʻae meʻa pehē ʻiate ia.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; when I consider, I am afraid of him.
Ko ia ʻoku ou manavahē ai ʻi hono ʻao: pea kau ka fakakaukau, ʻoku ou ilifia kiate ia.
16 For God hath made my heart faint, and the Almighty hath troubled me:
He ʻoku fakamolū hoku loto ʻe he ʻOtua, pea ʻoku fakamamahiʻi au ʻe he Māfimafi:
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.
Koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai tuʻusi au ʻi he teʻeki hoko ʻae fakapoʻuli, ʻo ʻikai ʻufiʻufi ʻe ia ʻae poʻuli mei hoku mata.
