Job 28
1 Thi Sølvet har sit Sted, hvorfra det kommer, og Guldet, man renser, har sit Sted.
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 Jern hentes af Støvet og Stene, som smeltes til Kobber.
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 Man gør Ende paa Mørket, og indtil det yderste ransager man de Stene, som ligge i Mørket og Dødens Skygge.
He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.
4 Man bryder en Skakt ned fra Jordboen; forglemte af Vandrerens Fod hænge de, borte fra Mennesker svæve de.
The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.
5 Af Jorden fremkommer Brød, men indeni omvæltes den som af Ild.
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 Dens Stene ere Safirens Sted, og den har Guldstøv i sig.
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 Stien derhen har ingen Rovfugl kendt, ingen Skades Øjne set.
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 De stolte Dyr have ikke betraadt den, og ingen Løve har gaaet ad den.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 Man lægger Haand paa den haarde Flint, man omvælter Bjerge fra Roden af.
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 Man udhugger Gange i Klipperne, og Øjet ser alt det dyrebare.
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 Man binder for Strømmene, saa at ikke en Draabe siver ud, og fører de skjulte Ting frem til Lyset.
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 Men Visdommen — hvorfra vil man finde den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Et Menneske kender ikke dens Værdi, og den findes ikke i de levendes Land.
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 Afgrunden siger: Den er ikke i mig, og Havet siger: Den er ikke hos mig.
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 Den kan ikke faas for det fineste Guld, ej heller dens Værdi opvejes med Sølv.
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 Den kan ikke opvejes med Guld fra Ofir, ej heller med den dyrebare Onyks og Safir.
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 Den kan ikke vurderes lige med Guld og Krystal; man kan ikke tilbytte sig den for Kar af fint Guld.
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Koraller og Ædelstene tales der ikke om; og Visdoms Besiddelse er bedre end Perler.
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 Topazer af Morland kunne ikke vurderes lige imod den; den kan ikke opvejes med det rene Guld.
The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.
20 Men Visdommen — hvorfra kommer den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 Den er skjult for alle levendes Øjne, den er og dulgt for Fuglene under Himmelen.
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 Afgrunden og Døden sige: Kun et Rygte om den hørte vi med vore Øren.
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 Gud forstaar dens Vej, og han kender dens Sted.
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 Thi han skuer indtil Jordens Ender; han ser hen under al Himmelen.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 Der han gav Vinden sin Vægt og bestemte Vandet dets Maal,
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 der han satte en Lov for Regnen og en Vej for Lynet, som gaar foran Torden,
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 da saa han den og kundgjorde den, beredte den, ja gennemskuede den.
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 Og han sagde til Mennesket: Se, Herrens Frygt, det er Visdom, og at vige fra det onde, det er Forstand.
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
