Jobs 23

1 Då svara Job og sagde:

And Job made answer and said,

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

Even today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.

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

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so 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 put my cause in order before him, and my mouth would be full of arguments.

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

I would see what his answers would be, and have knowledge of what he would say to me.

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

Would he make use of his great power to overcome me? No, but he would give attention to me.

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

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

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

See, I go forward, but he is not there; and back, but I do not see him;

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

I am looking for him on the left hand, but there is no sign of him; and turning to the right, I am not able to see him.

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

For he has knowledge of the way I take; after I have been tested I will come out like gold.

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

My feet have gone in his steps; I have kept in his way, without turning to one side or to the other.

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

I have never gone against the orders of his lips; the words of his mouth have been stored up in my heart.

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

But his purpose is fixed and there is no changing it; and he gives effect to the desire of his soul.

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

For what has been ordered for me by him will be gone through to the end: and his mind is full of such designs.

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

For this cause I am in fear before him, my thoughts of him overcome me.

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

For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.

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

For I am overcome by the dark, and by the black night which is covering my face.