1 Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

2 Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

3 Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

4 You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

5 But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

6 And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

7 Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

8 They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge;

9 Longer in measure than the earth, and wider than the sea.

10 If he goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

11 For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

12 And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

13 But if you put your heart right, stretching out your hands to him;

14 If you put far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

15 Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

16 For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

17 And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become like the morning.

18 And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

19 Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

20 But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.

1 Ano ra ko Topara Naamati; i mea ia,

2 Kaua ranei hei whakautua te tini o nga kupu? A e whakatikaia ranei te tangata ngutu hohoro?

3 Ma au kupu whakapehapeha ranei e nohopuku ai nga tangata? A, ina tawai koe, kaua ranei he tangata e mea i a koe kia whakama?

4 E mea ana hoki koe, He tino tika taku whakaako, a he ma ahau ki ou kanohi.

5 Aue, me i korero te Atua, me i puaki mai ona ngutu ki te whakahe i a koe!

6 Me i whakaaturia mai e ia ki a koe nga mea ngaro o te matauranga, te huhua o nga ara o tana mahi! Na kia matau koe, he iti iho i ou he ta te Atua e tango nei i a koe.

7 Ina whakatakina e koe, e kitea ranei e koe te Atua? E tino kitea rawatia ranei e koe te Kaha Rawa?

8 Kei te rangi te tiketike; ka pehea koe? Hohonu iho i te reinga; ko te aha e mohiotia e koe?

9 Ko tona takoto, roa atu i te whenua, whanui atu i te moana.

10 Ki te mea ka haukotia e ia, ka herehera ranei, ka whakawakia ranei, ma wai ia e arai?

11 E mohio ana hoki ia ki nga tangata teka noa; a e kite ana ia i te he, ahakoa e kore e whakaaroa e ia.

12 Otiia ko te mea whakaarokore nei, ko te tangata kahore rawa ona hinengaro, ae ra, to te tangata rite i tona whanautanga kei te kuao kaihe mohoao.

13 Ki te whakatikaia e koe tou ngakau, a ka wherahia ou ringa ki a ia;

14 Ki te mea he he kei tou ringa, whakamataratia atu, kaua hoki te kino e noho ki ou tapenakara;

15 He pono ko reira ara ai tou mata, te ai he ira; ae, ka u hoki koe, te ai he wehi:

16 Tera hoki koe e wareware ki tou mauiui; a e maharatia e koe ano ko nga wai kua rere atu.

17 A ko tou ora tera e marama ke atu i to te poutumarotanga o ate ra; a ahakoa e pouri ano, ka rite ki te ata.

18 Ka tatu ou whakaaro, no te mea ka whai tumanakohanga atu; ae, ka rapu koe i tetahi taha ou, i tetahi taha, a ka takoto marire koe.

19 E takoto iho ano koe, te ai he kaiwhakawehi; he tokomaha ano hoki e whai kia paingia e koe.

20 Ka poko ia nga kanohi o te hunga kino, kore ake he rerenga mo ratou; ko ta ratou e tumanako atu ai ko te hemonga.