Hopa 4

1 Katahi a Eripata Temani ka oho, ka mea,

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,

2 Ki te anga matou ki te korero ki a koe, e pouri ranei koe? otira e taea e wai te pehi te kupu?

“If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?

3 Nana, he tokomaha i whakaakona e koe: nau hoki i whakakaha nga ringa kahakore.

Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.

4 Ara ana i au kupu te tangata e hinga ana; nau hoki i kaha ai nga turi kua piko.

Your words have supported him who was falling, you have made the feeble knees firm.

5 Inaianei kua tae mai ki a koe, a e hemo ana koe: e pa ana ki a koe, ohorere ana koe.

But now it has come to you, and you faint. It touches you, and you are troubled.

6 He taka ianei kei tou wehi ki te Atua he okiokinga whakaaro mou? Kei te tapatahi o ou huarahi he tumanakohanga mou?

Isn’t your piety your confidence? Isn’t the integrity of your ways your hope?

7 Maharatia ra, ko wai o nga tangata harakore i huna? I ngaro ranei ki hea te hunga tika?

“Remember, now, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?

8 Ko taku hoki tenei i kite ai, ko te hunga e parau ana i te he, e rua ana i te raruraru, ko ia ra ano ta ratou e kokoti ai.

According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.

9 Huna ana ratou e te ha o te Atua, moti iho ratou i te hau o tona riri.

By the breath of God they perish. By the blast of his anger are they consumed.

10 Ko te hamama o te raiona, ko te reo o te raiona tutu, ko nga niho o nga kuao raiona, whati ana.

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

11 Ngaro ana te raiona katua i te kore kai, a marara noa atu nga kuao a te raiona.

The old lion perishes for lack of prey. The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad.

12 Na i kawea pukutia mai he korero ki ahau, a kapohia ana e toku taringa he komuhumuhu.

“Now a thing was secretly brought to me. My ear received a whisper of it.

13 I nga whakaaroaronga, no nga kite o te po, i te mea ka au iho te moe a te tangata,

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

14 Ka pa te wehi ki ahau, me te ihiihi, a wiri ana oku wheua katoa.

fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

15 Na ka tika atu he wairua i toku aroaro, tutu ana nga huruhuru o toku kikokiko.

Then a spirit passed before my face. The hair of my flesh stood up.

16 Tu ana ia, otiia kihai ahau i mohio ki tona mata; he ahua te mea i toku aroaro: tu puku ana; na ka rongo ahau i te reo e ki ana,

It stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,

17 He nui atu ranei te tika o te tangata i to te Atua? He nui atu ranei i to tona Kaihanga to ma o te tangata?

‘Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?

18 Nana, kahore rawa ia e whakawhirinaki ki ana pononga; a ki tana, he he kei ana anahera.

Behold, he puts no trust in his servants. He charges his angels with error.

19 Tera atu to te hunga e noho ana i roto i nga whare uku, he puehu to ratou turanga; mongamonga kau ratou i te aroaro o te purehurehu.

How much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed before the moth!

20 I waenganui o te ata, o te ahiahi, ka whakangaromia ratou; huna ana ratou ake tonu atu, te ai tetahi hei whakaaro atu.

Between morning and evening they are destroyed. They perish forever without any regarding it.

21 Kahore ranei to ratou taura here teneti i motuhia i roto i a ratou? Mate ana ratou, kahore hoki he matauranga.

Isn’t their tent cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.’