Jobs 23

1 Då svara Job og sagde:

Then Job answered and said,

2 «Endå gjeld klaga mi for tråss, tungt legg eg handi på min sukk.

Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Berre eg kunde finna honom og koma til hans bustad fram!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

4 Då la eg fram for han mi sak og fyllte munnen min med prov.

I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Då høyrde eg kva svar han gav, og merka det han sa til meg.

I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.

6 Vilde med magt han mot meg standa? Nei, lyda på meg vilde han.

Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.

7 Ein skuldfri stod då for han fram; for alltid slapp eg domar min.

There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Gjeng eg i aust, han er’kje der; mot vest, eg vert han ikkje var;

Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;

9 i nord han verkar, ei eg ser han, han snur mot sud, eg ser han ikkje.

On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.

10 For all den veg eg fer han kjenner; prøvde han meg, eg var som gull.

But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 Min fot hev fylgt i faret hans; hans veg eg gjeng ubrigdeleg,

My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.

12 veik ei frå det hans lippa baud, meir enn mi lov eg lydde hans.

I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 Men ein er han, kven hindrar honom? Det han hev hug til, gjer han og.

But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 Han um min lagnad avgjerd tek, og hev med meg so mangt i emning.

For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.

15 Eg difor ræddast for hans åsyn, når eg det minnest, skjelv eg for han.

Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 Ja, Gud hev brote ned mitt mod, og Allvald hev gjort meg fælen,

For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

17 ei er det myrkret som meg tyner, og ei mi eigi myrke åsyn.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.