Job 28
1 Thi Sølvet har sit Sted, hvorfra det kommer, og Guldet, man renser, har sit Sted.
For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
2 Jern hentes af Støvet og Stene, som smeltes til Kobber.
Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
3 Man gør Ende paa Mørket, og indtil det yderste ransager man de Stene, som ligge i Mørket og Dødens Skygge.
An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.
4 Man bryder en Skakt ned fra Jordboen; forglemte af Vandrerens Fod hænge de, borte fra Mennesker svæve de.
He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
5 Af Jorden fremkommer Brød, men indeni omvæltes den som af Ild.
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 Dens Stene ere Safirens Sted, og den har Guldstøv i sig.
Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
7 Stien derhen har ingen Rovfugl kendt, ingen Skades Øjne set.
[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
8 De stolte Dyr have ikke betraadt den, og ingen Løve har gaaet ad den.
[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
9 Man lægger Haand paa den haarde Flint, man omvælter Bjerge fra Roden af.
To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
10 Man udhugger Gange i Klipperne, og Øjet ser alt det dyrebare.
Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
11 Man binder for Strømmene, saa at ikke en Draabe siver ud, og fører de skjulte Ting frem til Lyset.
The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 Men Visdommen — hvorfra vil man finde den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Et Menneske kender ikke dens Værdi, og den findes ikke i de levendes Land.
Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
14 Afgrunden siger: Den er ikke i mig, og Havet siger: Den er ikke hos mig.
The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
15 Den kan ikke faas for det fineste Guld, ej heller dens Værdi opvejes med Sølv.
No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
16 Den kan ikke opvejes med Guld fra Ofir, ej heller med den dyrebare Onyks og Safir.
She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Den kan ikke vurderes lige med Guld og Krystal; man kan ikke tilbytte sig den for Kar af fint Guld.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
18 Koraller og Ædelstene tales der ikke om; og Visdoms Besiddelse er bedre end Perler.
Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
19 Topazer af Morland kunne ikke vurderes lige imod den; den kan ikke opvejes med det rene Guld.
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 Men Visdommen — hvorfra kommer den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Den er skjult for alle levendes Øjne, den er og dulgt for Fuglene under Himmelen.
Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
22 Afgrunden og Døden sige: Kun et Rygte om den hørte vi med vore Øren.
Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
23 Gud forstaar dens Vej, og han kender dens Sted.
God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
24 Thi han skuer indtil Jordens Ender; han ser hen under al Himmelen.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
25 Der han gav Vinden sin Vægt og bestemte Vandet dets Maal,
When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
26 der han satte en Lov for Regnen og en Vej for Lynet, som gaar foran Torden,
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
27 da saa han den og kundgjorde den, beredte den, ja gennemskuede den.
Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
28 Og han sagde til Mennesket: Se, Herrens Frygt, det er Visdom, og at vige fra det onde, det er Forstand.
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
