Job 28
1 Thi Sølvet har sit Sted, hvorfra det kommer, og Guldet, man renser, har sit Sted.
Truly there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is washed out.
2 Jern hentes af Støvet og Stene, som smeltes til Kobber.
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone is changed into brass by the fire.
3 Man gør Ende paa Mørket, og indtil det yderste ransager man de Stene, som ligge i Mørket og Dødens Skygge.
Man puts an end to the dark, searching out to the farthest limit the stones of the deep places of the dark.
4 Man bryder en Skakt ned fra Jordboen; forglemte af Vandrerens Fod hænge de, borte fra Mennesker svæve de.
He makes a deep mine far away from those living in the light of day; when they go about on the earth, they have no knowledge of those who are under them, who are hanging far from men, twisting from side to side on a cord.
5 Af Jorden fremkommer Brød, men indeni omvæltes den som af Ild.
As for the earth, bread comes out of it; but under its face it is turned up as if by fire.
6 Dens Stene ere Safirens Sted, og den har Guldstøv i sig.
Its stones are the place of sapphires, and it has dust of gold.
7 Stien derhen har ingen Rovfugl kendt, ingen Skades Øjne set.
No bird has knowledge of it, and the hawk's eye has never seen it.
8 De stolte Dyr have ikke betraadt den, og ingen Løve har gaaet ad den.
The great beasts have not gone over it, and the cruel lion has not taken that way.
9 Man lægger Haand paa den haarde Flint, man omvælter Bjerge fra Roden af.
Man puts out his hand on the hard rock, overturning mountains by the roots.
10 Man udhugger Gange i Klipperne, og Øjet ser alt det dyrebare.
He makes deep ways, cut through the rock, and his eye sees everything of value.
11 Man binder for Strømmene, saa at ikke en Draabe siver ud, og fører de skjulte Ting frem til Lyset.
He keeps back the streams from flowing, and makes the secret things come out into the light.
12 Men Visdommen — hvorfra vil man finde den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
But where may wisdom be seen? and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
13 Et Menneske kender ikke dens Værdi, og den findes ikke i de levendes Land.
Man has not seen the way to it, and it is not in the land of the living.
14 Afgrunden siger: Den er ikke i mig, og Havet siger: Den er ikke hos mig.
The deep waters say, It is not in me: and the sea says, It is not with me.
15 Den kan ikke faas for det fineste Guld, ej heller dens Værdi opvejes med Sølv.
Gold may not be given for it, or a weight of silver in payment for it.
16 Den kan ikke opvejes med Guld fra Ofir, ej heller med den dyrebare Onyks og Safir.
It may not be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the onyx of great price, or the sapphire.
17 Den kan ikke vurderes lige med Guld og Krystal; man kan ikke tilbytte sig den for Kar af fint Guld.
Gold and glass are not equal to it in price, and it may not be exchanged for jewels of the best gold.
18 Koraller og Ædelstene tales der ikke om; og Visdoms Besiddelse er bedre end Perler.
There is no need to say anything about coral or crystal; and the value of wisdom is greater than that of pearls.
19 Topazer af Morland kunne ikke vurderes lige imod den; den kan ikke opvejes med det rene Guld.
The topaz of Ethiopia is not equal to it, and it may not be valued with the best gold.
20 Men Visdommen — hvorfra kommer den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
From where then does wisdom come, and where is the resting-place of knowledge?
21 Den er skjult for alle levendes Øjne, den er og dulgt for Fuglene under Himmelen.
For it is kept secret from the eyes of all living, unseen by the birds of the air.
22 Afgrunden og Døden sige: Kun et Rygte om den hørte vi med vore Øren.
Destruction and Death say, We have only had word of it with our ears.
23 Gud forstaar dens Vej, og han kender dens Sted.
God has knowledge of the way to it, and of its resting-place;
24 Thi han skuer indtil Jordens Ender; han ser hen under al Himmelen.
For his eyes go to the ends of the earth, and he sees everything under heaven.
25 Der han gav Vinden sin Vægt og bestemte Vandet dets Maal,
When he made a weight for the wind, measuring out the waters;
26 der han satte en Lov for Regnen og en Vej for Lynet, som gaar foran Torden,
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the thunder-flames;
27 da saa han den og kundgjorde den, beredte den, ja gennemskuede den.
Then he saw it, and put it on record; he gave it its fixed form, searching it out completely.
28 Og han sagde til Mennesket: Se, Herrens Frygt, det er Visdom, og at vige fra det onde, det er Forstand.
And he said to man, Truly the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to keep from evil is the way to knowledge.
