1 Truly, my eye has seen all this, word of it has come to my ear, and I have knowledge of it.
2 The same things are in my mind as in yours; I am equal to you.
3 But I would have talk with the Ruler of all, and my desire is to have an argument with God.
4 But you put a false face on things; all your attempts to put things right are of no value.
5 If only you would keep quiet, it would be a sign of wisdom!
6 Give ear to the argument of my mouth, and take note of the words of my lips.
7 Will you say in God's name what is not right, and put false words into his mouth?
8 Will you have respect for God's person in this cause, and put yourselves forward as his supporters?
9 Will it be good for you to be searched out by him, or have you the thought that he may be guided into error like a man?
10 He will certainly put you right, if you have respect for persons in secret.
11 Will not his glory put you in fear, so that your hearts will be overcome before him?
12 Your wise sayings are only dust, and your strong places are only earth.
13 Keep quiet, and let me say what is in my mind, whatever may come to me.
14 I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
15 Truly, he will put an end to me; I have no hope; but I will not give way in argument before him;
16 And that will be my salvation, for an evil-doer would not come before him,
17 Give ear with care to my words, and keep what I say in your minds.
18 See now, I have put my cause in order, and I am certain that I will be seen to be right.
19 Is any one able to take up the argument against me? If so, I would keep quiet and give up my breath.
20 Only two things do not do to me, then I will come before your face:
21 Take your hand far away from me; and let me not be overcome by fear of you.
22 Then at the sound of your voice I will give answer; or let me put forward my cause for you to give me an answer.
23 What is the number of my evil-doings and my sins? give me knowledge of them.
24 Why is your face veiled from me, as if I was numbered among your haters?
25 Will you be hard on a leaf in flight before the wind? will you make a dry stem go more quickly on its way?
26 For you put bitter things on record against me, and send punishment on me for the sins of my early years;
27 And you put chains on my feet, watching all my ways, and making a limit for my steps;
28 Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.
1 Nana, kua kitea katoatia tenei e toku kanohi, kua rongo toku taringa, kua mohio.
2 Ko ta koutou e mohio na, ko taku ano tena e mohio nei: kahore hoki ahau i hoki iho i a koutou.
3 Ina, e whai kupu ano ahau ki te Kaha Rawa: a e hiahia ana ki te korerorero ki te Atua.
4 Ko koutou ia, he hunga tito i te teka, he rata horihori noa koutou katoa.
5 Te pai na, me i mutu rawa a koutou korero! Ko to koutou whakaaro nui hoki tena.
6 Tena ra, whakarongo mai ki taku tautohe, maharatia nga whawhai a oku ngutu.
7 Me tautoko ta te Atua ki te kupu kino? me tautoko ranei tana ki te tinihanga?
8 Ka whakapai kanohi koia koutou ki a ia? Ma koutou ranei ta te Atua tautohe?
9 He pai ranei kia rapua ta koutou e ia? E maminga ranei koutou ki a ia, e pera me tetahi ka maminga nei ki te tangata?
10 He pono ka whakahe ia ki a koutou ki te whakapai puku koutou i te kanohi.
11 E kore ranei koutou e mataku ki tona nui? E kore ranei te wehi ki a ia e tau ki a koutou?
12 Ko a koutou pepeha nunui he whakatauki no te pungarehu, ko o koutou parepare he parepare paru.
13 Kati te korero, waiho noa iho ahau, kia korero ai ahau, ahakoa pa mai te aha ki ahau.
14 He aha oku kikokiko i ngaua ai e oku niho? He aha toku wairua i waiho ai e ahau i roto i toku ringa?
15 Ahakoa whakamate noa ia i ahau, ka tatari tonu ahau ki a ia: otiia ka mau tonu ahau ki oku ara i tona aroaro.
16 Ko tenei hoki hei oranga moku; e kore hoki te tangata atuakore e tae mai ki tona aroaro.
17 Ata whakarongo ki aku korero: kia anga mai o koutou taringa ki taku e whakapuaki nei.
18 Na kua takoto taku mo te whakawa; e mohio ana ahau he tika ahau.
19 Ko wai ia hei totohe ki ahau? Ka whakarongo puku hoki ahau aianei, a ka hemo ahau.
20 Engari kaua nga mea e rua e meatia mai ki ahau; katahi ahau ka kore e huna i ahau i tou mata.
21 Kia matara atu tou ringa ki tawhiti i ahau; a kaua ahau e whakawehia e te mataku ki a koe.
22 Ko reira, mau e karanga, a maku e whakao atu; maku ranei e korero, a mau e whakahoki kupu mai ki ahau.
23 Ka hia ra oku kino, oku hara? Meinga ahau kia matau ki toku he me toku hara.
24 He aha tou mata i huna ai e koe? He aha ahau i kiia ai e koe he hoariri?
25 E kapokapohia ranei e koe te pakawha e puhia haeretia ana? E whaia ranei e koe te papapa maroke?
26 Kei te tuhituhi na hoki koe i nga mea kawa moku, e mea ana hoki kia riro mai i ahau nga he o toku taitamarikitanga.
27 Karapitia iho e koe oku waewae ki te rakau, he mea tohu nau oku ara katoa, a he mea tuhi nau oku takahanga waewae tawhio noa:
28 Ahakoa toku rite kei te mea pirau, e memeha noa ana, kei te kakahu e kainga ana e te purehurehu.