Hopa 8
1 Na ka whakautu a Pirirara Huhi, ka mea,
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2 Kia pehea ake te roa o tau korero i enei mea? Kia pehea ake te roa o nga kupu a tou mangai e rite ai ki te hau kaha?
“How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
3 E whakaparori ke ranei te Atua i te whakawa? E whakaparori ke ranei te Kaha Rawa i te tika?
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4 Ki te mea i hara au tamariki ki a ia, a kua maka atu ratou e ia hei utu mo to ratou he;
When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.
5 Ki te rapu wawe koe i to Atua, a ka inoi ki te Kaha Rawa;
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,
6 Ki te mea he ma koe, he tika, ina, ka ara ake ia ki a koe aianei, ka manaakitia ano e ia te nohoanga o tou tika.
if you are pure and upright, even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf and restore your righteous estate.
7 Ahakoa i iti tou timatanga, e nui noa atu tou whakamutunga.
Though your beginnings were modest, your latter days will flourish.
8 Tena ra, ui atu ki to mua whakatupuranga; anga atu hoki ki te mea kua rapua e o ratou matua.
Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
9 Nonanahi nei hoki tatou, kahore hoki e mohio; he atarangi nei hoki o tatou ra i runga i te whenua;
For we were born yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 E kore ranei ratou e whakaako i a koe, e korero ki a koe, e puaki mai ranei he kupu i o ratou ngakau?
Will they not teach you and tell you, and speak from their understanding?
11 E tupu ranei te wiwi i te mea kahore he repo? E nui ranei te raupo ki te kahore he wai?
Does papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Do reeds flourish without water?
12 I te mea he kaiota tonu, a kihai i tapahia, kua maroke i mua ake i nga otaota katoa.
While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
13 Ka pera ano nga ara o te hunga katoa e wareware ana ki te Atua, a ka riro ki te kore ta te tangata whakaponokore i tumanako ai.
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish.
14 Ka motuhia atu tana i whakamanawa atu ai, ko te whare hoki o te pungawerewere hei tumanakohanga mona.
His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
15 Ka okioki atu ia ki tona whare; heoi e kore e tu: u tonu tana pupuri atu, otiia e kore e mau.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; he holds fast, but it does not endure.
16 E matomato ana i te mea kahore nei te ra, a e wana ana ona peka i tana kari.
He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
17 Kapi tonu te puranga i ona pakiaka, e kitea ana e ia te wahi kamaka.
His roots wrap around the rock heap; he looks for a home among the stones.
18 Ki te whakamotitia iho ia i tona wahi, ka whakakahore taua wahi ki a ia, ka mea, Kahore ahau i kite i a koe.
If he is uprooted from his place, it will disown him, saying, ‘I never saw you.’
19 Nana, ko te hari tenei o tona ara, a ka tupu ake etahi atu i roto i te puehu.
Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.
20 Nana, e kore te Atua e whakakahore ki te tangata tika, e kore ano e puritia e ia te ringa o nga tangata kino.
Behold, God does not reject the blameless, nor will He strengthen the hand of evildoers.
21 Tera ano tou mangaika whakakiia e ia ki te kata, ou ngutu ki te hamama.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy.
22 He whakama te kakahu mo te hunga e kino ana ki a koe, a ka kahore noa iho te tapenakara o te hunga kino.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
