Jobs 12
1 Då svara Job og sagde:
Then Job answered and said,
2 «Ja visst, de er dei rette folk, og visdomen døyr ut med dykk.
“No doubt you are the people; wisdom will die with you.
3 Men eg hev vit so vel som de; eg ei til atters stend for dykk; kven kjenner ikkje dette fyrr?
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Indeed, who does not know such things as these?
4 Til spott for venen min vert eg som bad til Gud og bønhøyrd vart. Til spott vert rettvis mann og ærleg.
I am something for my neighbor to laugh at— I, one who called on God and who was answered by him! I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.
5 Vanvyrd ulukka! tenkjer trygg mann, vanvyrdnad ventar deim som vinglar.
In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune; he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.
6 Valdsmenn bur roleg i sitt tjeld; trygge er dei som tergar Gud, dei som hev Gud i neven sin.
The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God feel secure; their own hands are their gods.
7 Spør bølingen, han skal deg læra, og fugl i luft, han segja skal,
But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.
8 og tal til jordi, ho skal læra, og fisk i hav, skal melda deg:
Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9 Kven skynar ei på alt i hop, at Herrens hand hev skapa det?
Which animal among all these does not know that the hand of Yahweh has done this?
10 Kvar livand’ sjæl han hev i handi og åndi åt kvart menneskje.
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
11 Vert ordi ei med øyra prøvde, som du med gomen maten smakar?
Does not the ear test words just as the palate tastes its food?
12 Hjå folk med gråe hår er visdom, og vit hjå deim som liver lenge.
With aged men is wisdom; in length of days is understanding.
13 Hjå honom visdom er og kraft, hjå honom råd og dømekraft.
With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
14 Når han riv ned, kven byggjer upp? Når han set fast, kven løyser ut?
See, he breaks down, and it cannot be built again; if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.
15 Han stengjer vatnet, turkar det, slepper det, so det jordi øyder.
See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up; and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 Hjå honom kraft og klokskap er; han eig båd’ vegvill og vill-leidar;
With him are strength and wisdom; people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.
17 rådsherrar fører han som fangar, og domarar han gjer til dårar.
He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow; he turns judges into fools.
18 Han løyser konge-styring upp, legg reip kring livet på deim sjølve.
He takes off the chain of authority from kings; he wraps a cloth about their waists.
19 Han fører prestar plundra burt og øyder ut eld’-gamle ætter.
He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow and overthrows mighty people.
20 Han mælet tek frå øvde talar og vitet frå dei gamle menn,
He removes the speech of those who had been trusted and takes away the understanding of the elders.
21 og yver stormenn skam han øys og løyser beltet på dei sterke.
He pours contempt upon princes and unfastens the belt of strong people.
22 Han myrkret driv or holor ut og fører dimma fram i dagen.
He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light.
23 Han aukar folk og tynar deim; han spreider folk og fører deim;
He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them; He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.
24 Han vitet tek frå jordheimsfyrstar og let veglaus heid deim vildra;
He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth; he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.
25 dei sviv i myrkret utan ljos, han let dei raga liksom drukne.
They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunk man.
