Job 23

1 Job progovori i reče:

Job replied,

2 “Zar mi je i danas tužaljka buntovna? Teška mu ruka iz mene vapaj budi:

“Just the same, my complaints today remain bitter. In spite of my groaning he is still punishing me.

3 o, kada bih znao kako ću ga naći, do njegova kako doprijeti prijestolja,

If only I knew where I could find him so I could go to where he sits in judgment.

4 pred njim parnicu bih svoju razložio, iz mojih bi usta navrli dokazi.

There I would lay out my case before him and present all my arguments in full.

5 Rad bih znati što bi meni odvratio i razumjeti riječ što bi je rekao!

I would discover how he would answer me and learn what he has to say to me.

6 Zar mu treba snage velike za raspru? Ne, dosta bi bilo da me on sasluša.

Would he fight against me using his mighty power? No, he would pay attention to what I have to say.

7 U protivniku bi vidio pravedna, i parnica moja tad bi pobijedila.

There a good person could reason with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

8 Na istok krenem li, naći ga ne mogu; pođem li na zapad, ne razabirem ga.

If I go to the east, he's not there; if I go the west, I don't find him.

9 Ištem na sjeveru, al' ga ne opažam; nevidljiv je ako se k jugu okrenem.

If he's working in the north, I don't perceive him; if he's moving south, I don't see him.

10 Pa ipak, on dobro zna put kojim kročim! Neka me kuša: čist k'o zlato ću izići!

Yet he always knows where I'm going. When he has proved me, I will come out shining like gold.

11 Noga mi se stopa njegovih držala, putem sam njegovim išao ne skrećuć';

I have kept in step with him; I have followed his way without turning aside.

12 slušao sam nalog njegovih usana, pohranih mu riječi u grudima svojim.

I have not neglected his commands, for I value what he has told me to do more than the food I eat every day.

13 Al' htjedne li štogod, tko će ga odvratit'? Što zaželi dušom, to će ispuniti.

But God is unchangeable—who can turn him from his purposes? He does whatever he wants to do.

14 Izvršit će što je dosudio meni, kao i sve drugo što je odlučio!

So he will finish whatever he has planned for me—and he has many plans for me.

15 Zbog toga pred njime sav ustravljen ja sam, i što više mislim, jače strah me hvata.

That's why I'm terrified at meeting him; when I think of him I tremble with fear.

16 U komade Bog mi je srce smrvio, užasom me svega prožeo Svesilni,

God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.

17 premda nisam ni u tminama propao, ni u mraku što je lice moje zastro.

Yet I'm still here despite the dark—even though I can't see through the utter darkness.