Jobs 23

1 Da tok Job til orde og sa:

Then Job answered and said,

2 Ennu idag gjelder min klage for å være gjenstridighet; min hånd hviler dog tungt på mitt sukk.

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Bare jeg visste å finne ham og kunde komme frem til hans trone!

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 Jeg skulde legge min sak frem for hans åsyn og fylle min munn med beviser.

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Jeg skulde få vite de ord han vilde svare mig, og merke mig hvad han vilde si til mig.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 Skulde han da med full kraft stride mot mig? Mon ikke just han skulde akte på mine ord?

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 Da skulde en rettskaffen mann gå i rette med ham, og jeg skulde slippe fra min dommer for all tid.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.

8 Men går jeg mot øst, så er han ikke der; går jeg mot vest, så blir jeg ikke var ham;

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 er han virksom i nord, så ser jeg ham ikke; går han mot syd, så øiner jeg ham ikke.

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 For han kjenner den vei jeg holder mig til; prøvde han mig, så skulde jeg gå frem av prøven som gullet.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 Min fot holdt sig i hans spor; jeg fulgte hans vei og bøide ikke av.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Fra hans lebers bud vek jeg ikke; fremfor min egen lov aktet jeg på hans munns ord.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 Men han er den eneste, og hvem hindrer ham? Hvad hans sjel lyster, det gjør han.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 For han fullbyrder det han har fastsatt for mig, og av sådant er det meget hos ham.

15 Derfor reddes jeg for ham; tenker jeg på det, så bever jeg for ham.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 Og Gud har knekket mitt mot, og den Allmektige har forferdet mig,

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 fordi jeg ikke blev rykket bort før mørket kom, og fordi han ikke skjulte ulykkens natt for mig.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.