Hopa 34
1 I korero ano hoki a Erihu, i mea,
Then Elihu continued,
2 Whakarongo ki aku kupu, e te hunga whakaaro nui; kia whai taringa ki ahau, e te hunga mohio.
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
3 E whakamatau ana hoki te taringa i te kupu, e pera ana me ta te mangai ki te reka o te kai.
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
4 Ko ta tatou e whiriwhiri ai ma tatou ko te mea tika: kia mohiotia hoki e tatou, e tenei, e tenei, ko te aha te mea pai.
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
5 Kua mea nei hoki a Hopa, He tika taku, a kua whakapeaua ketia e te Atua te whakawa moku:
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
6 Ahakoa kei ahau te tika ka kiia ahau he tangata teka; e kore e mahu toku werohanga, ahakoa kahore oku he.
Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
7 Ko wai te tangata e rite ki a Hopa, me te mea he wai te tawai e inumia ana e ia?
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
8 Kua uru nei ki te tira o nga kaimahi i te he, a e haere tahi ana me nga tangata kikino.
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
9 Kua mea hoki ia, Kahore he painga ki te tangata ki te ahuareka atu ia ki te Atua.
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
10 No reira whakarongo mai ki ahau, e nga tangata ngakau mohio: e kore rawa te Atua e mahi i te kino; e kore rawa hoki te Kaha Rawa e mahi i te he.
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
11 Ka utua hoki e ia te tangata mo tana mahi, ka rite hoki ki to te tangata ara nga mea e whakawhiwhia e ia ki a ia.
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
12 Tika rawa, e kore te Atua e kino, e kore ano hoki te Kaha Rawa e whakaputa ke i te whakawa.
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
13 Na wai ia i mea hei kaitirotiro mo te whenua? Na wai hoki i whakatakoto nga tikanga mo te ao katoa?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
14 Ki te anga mai tona ngakau ki te tangata, ki te kohia atu e ia ki a ia tona wairua me tona manawa;
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
15 Ka hemo ngatahi nga kikokiko katoa, a ka hoki ano te tangata ki te puehu.
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
16 Na ki te mea he ngakau mohio tou, whakarongo ki tenei; kia whai taringa mai ki te reo o aku kupu.
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
17 E whai kingitanga ranei tetahi kotahi e kino ana ki te tika? E whakakino ranei koe ki te tangata tika, kaha hoki?
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
18 E tau ana ranei te mea atu ki te kingi, He weriweri koe? ki nga rangatira ranei, He kino koutou?
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
19 Kia iti rawa iho ki a ia e kore nei e whakapai ki te kanohi o nga rangatira, e kore nei e hira ake tona pai ki te hunga whai rawa i nga rawakore? No te mea he mahi ratou katoa na ona ringa.
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
20 Kihai i aha kua mate ratou, kua mate i waenganui po; ka wiri te iwi, ka pahemo atu, ka riro te hunga nunui, kahore hoki he ringa.
They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
21 Kei runga hoki i nga ara o te tangata ona kanohi, e kitea ana e ia ona hikoinga katoa.
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
22 Kahore he pouri, kahore he atarangi o te mate e piri ai nga kaimahi i te kino.
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
23 E kore hoki e nui atu i te tika te mea e whakawaha e ia ki te tangata, e haere ai ia ki te aroaro o te Atua ki te whakawa.
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Ka wawahia e ia nga tangata nunui, te mohiotia nga ara, a whakaturia ake etahi atu i muri i a ratou.
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
25 Na e mohio ana ia ki a ratou mahi; a hurihia ake ratou e ia i te po, a mongamonga noa ratou.
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
26 He hunga kino ratou, pakia iho e ia i te tirohanga a te tangata;
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
27 Mo ratou i tahuri ke i te whai i a ia, kihai hoki i whakaaro ki tetahi o ona ara:
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
28 Na ratou hoki i puta ai te tangi a te rawakore ki a ia, a rongo ana ia ki te tangi a te hunga e tukinotia ana.
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
29 Ki te meinga e ia kia ata noho, ko wai hei whakararuraru? A ki te huna e ia tona kanohi, ko wai e kite i a ia? ahakoa i meatia ki te iwi, ki te tangata ranei, rite tonu.
Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
30 Kore ake te whakaponokore e whai kingitanga, kore ake te iwi e mahangatia.
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
31 Kua mea atu ranei ki te Atua, Kua pehia ahau e te whiu, e kore ahau e mahi i te he a muri nei?
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
32 Ko te mea kihai i kitea e ahau mau e whakaatu mai ki ahau; ki te mea i mahi ahau i te he, ka mutu taku.
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
33 Kia rite ranei tana utu ki tau e mea ai, i whakakahoretia ai e koe? Mau te whiriwhiri, kahore maku: na mau e korero mai tau i mohio ai.
then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
34 Ka korero mai nga tangata ngakau mahara ki ahau, ae ra, nga tangata whakaaro nui e whakarongo ana ki ahau:
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
35 Kahore he matauranga o Hopa i a ia i korero ra, kahore hoki he mahara i roto i ana kupu.
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
36 He pai me i whakamatauria a Hopa a te mutunga ra ano, mo ana kupu i whakahokia mai nei e ia, he mea i rite ki a nga tangata kikino.
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
37 E tapiritia ana hoki e ia te tutu ki runga ki tona hara, kei te pakipaki ia i ona ringa i waenganui i a tatou, a whakanuia ana e ia ana kupu kite Atua.
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
