Hopa 29
1 A i korero tonu a Hopa i tana pepeha, i mea,
Job went on speaking.
2 Aue, me i rite ki nga marama o mua, ki nga ra i tiaki ai te Atua i ahau!
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 I tiaho mai ai tana rama ki toku matenga, a na tana whakamarama i haere ai ahau i te pouri:
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Me i pera ano me ahau i nga ra o toku taiohitanga, i te mea nei kei runga to te Atua whakaaro puku i toku teneti;
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 I te mea e noho ana ano te Kaha Rawa i ahau, a kei tetahi taha oku aku tamariki, kei tetahi taha;
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 I horoia ai oku takahanga ki te pata, a rere mai ana nga awa hinu ki ahau i roto i te kohatu!
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 I toku haerenga atu ki te kuwaha ki te pa, a whakapai ana i te nohoanga moku i te waharoa,
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 Ka kite nga taitamariki i ahau, a piri ana ratou: whakatika ana nga koroheke, tu ana ki runga;
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 Mutu pu te korero a nga tino tangata, kua kopania te ringa ki o ratou mangai;
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 Ngaro ana te reo o nga rangatira, piri ana o ratou arero ki o ratou ngao.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 No te rongonga hoki o te taringa i ahau manaaki ana i ahau; te kitenga o te kanohi i ahau, whakaae mai ana ki aku mahi:
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 No te mea naku i whakaora te rawakore i a ia e karanga ana, te pani me te tangata hoki kahore nei ona kaiawhina.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 I tau ki runga ki ahau te manaaki a te tangata e tata ana ki te whakangaromanga; harakoa ana i ahau te ngakau o te pouaru.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 I kakahuria e ahau te tika, a ko tera toku kakahu: e rite ana taku whakarite whakawa he koroka, he karauna.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 He kanohi ahau ki te matapo, he waewae ki te kopa.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 He matua ahau ki nga rawakore: a i ata rapua e ahau te tikanga o te totohe a te tangata kihai nei ahau i mohio.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Wawahia ana e ahau nga kauae o te tangata kino, a takiritia mai ana e ahau tana mea pahua i roto i ona niho.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 Katahi ahau ka mea, Tera ahau e mate i roto i toku ohanga; ka whakanuia oku ra kia rite ki te onepu te maha:
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Ko toku pakiaka tautoro tonu ki nga wai, a i te po tau ana te tomairangi ki runga ki toku peka:
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Ko toku kororia hou tonu i roto i ahau, a hoki ake ana te kaha o taku kopere i toku ringa.
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 I whakarongo mai nga tangata ki ahau, i tatari, whakarongo puku ana ratou i ahau e whakatakoto whakaaro ana.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 I muri i aku kupu kore ake ratou i korero ano; maturuturu iho ana aku kupu ki runga ki a ratou.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 I taria mai ahau e ratou ano ko te ua; hamama mai ana o ratou mangai ano e tatari ana ki te ua o muri.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Ka kata ahau ki a ratou, kihai i whakaponohia e ratou; kihai hoki ratou i whakataka i te marama o toku mata.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 Naku to ratou ara i whiriwhiri, a noho ana ahau hei rangatira, noho ana hoki ahau ano he kingi i roto i te ope; i rite ahau ki te kaiwhakamarie o te hunga e tangi ana.
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
