Job 28
1 Thi Sølvet har sit Sted, hvorfra det kommer, og Guldet, man renser, har sit Sted.
“Surely there is a source for silver, And a place for the gold they refine;
2 Jern hentes af Støvet og Stene, som smeltes til Kobber.
Iron is taken from the dust, And bronze [from] the firm stone.
3 Man gør Ende paa Mørket, og indtil det yderste ransager man de Stene, som ligge i Mørket og Dødens Skygge.
He has set an end to darkness, And he is searching to all perfection, A stone of darkness and death-shade.
4 Man bryder en Skakt ned fra Jordboen; forglemte af Vandrerens Fod hænge de, borte fra Mennesker svæve de.
A stream has broken out from a sojourner, Those forgotten of the foot, They were low, they wandered from man.
5 Af Jorden fremkommer Brød, men indeni omvæltes den som af Ild.
The earth! Bread comes forth from it, And its under-part is turned like fire.
6 Dens Stene ere Safirens Sted, og den har Guldstøv i sig.
A place of the sapphire [are] its stones, And it has dust of gold.
7 Stien derhen har ingen Rovfugl kendt, ingen Skades Øjne set.
A path—a ravenous bird has not known it, Nor has an eye of the falcon scorched it,
8 De stolte Dyr have ikke betraadt den, og ingen Løve har gaaet ad den.
Nor have the sons of pride trodden it, The fierce lion has not passed over it.
9 Man lægger Haand paa den haarde Flint, man omvælter Bjerge fra Roden af.
He sent forth his hand against the flint, He overturned mountains from the root.
10 Man udhugger Gange i Klipperne, og Øjet ser alt det dyrebare.
Among rocks, he has cleaved brooks, And his eye has seen every precious thing.
11 Man binder for Strømmene, saa at ikke en Draabe siver ud, og fører de skjulte Ting frem til Lyset.
He has bound overflowing rivers, And the hidden thing brings out [to] light.
12 Men Visdommen — hvorfra vil man finde den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
And the wisdom—from where is it found? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
13 Et Menneske kender ikke dens Værdi, og den findes ikke i de levendes Land.
Man has not known its arrangement, Nor is it 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 has said, It [is] not in me, And the sea has said, It is not with me.
15 Den kan ikke faas for det fineste Guld, ej heller dens Værdi opvejes med Sølv.
Gold is not given for it, Nor is silver weighed—its price.
16 Den kan ikke opvejes med Guld fra Ofir, ej heller med den dyrebare Onyks og Safir.
It is not valued with pure gold of Ophir, With precious onyx and sapphire,
17 Den kan ikke vurderes lige med Guld og Krystal; man kan ikke tilbytte sig den for Kar af fint Guld.
Gold and crystal do not equal it, Nor [is] its exchange a vessel of fine gold.
18 Koraller og Ædelstene tales der ikke om; og Visdoms Besiddelse er bedre end Perler.
Corals and pearl are not remembered, The acquisition of wisdom [is] above rubies.
19 Topazer af Morland kunne ikke vurderes lige imod den; den kan ikke opvejes med det rene Guld.
The topaz of Cush does not equal it, It is not valued with pure gold.
20 Men Visdommen — hvorfra kommer den? og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
And the wisdom—from where does it come? And where [is] this, the place of understanding?
21 Den er skjult for alle levendes Øjne, den er og dulgt for Fuglene under Himmelen.
It has been hid from the eyes of all living. And from the bird of the heavens It has been hidden.
22 Afgrunden og Døden sige: Kun et Rygte om den hørte vi med vore Øren.
Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard its fame.
23 Gud forstaar dens Vej, og han kender dens Sted.
God has understood its way, And He has known its place.
24 Thi han skuer indtil Jordens Ender; han ser hen under al Himmelen.
For He looks to the ends of the earth, He sees under the whole heavens,
25 Der han gav Vinden sin Vægt og bestemte Vandet dets Maal,
To make a weight for the wind, And He meted out the waters in measure.
26 der han satte en Lov for Regnen og en Vej for Lynet, som gaar foran Torden,
In His making for the rain a limit, And a way for the brightness of the voices,
27 da saa han den og kundgjorde den, beredte den, ja gennemskuede den.
Then He has seen and declares it, He has prepared it, and also searched it out,
28 Og han sagde til Mennesket: Se, Herrens Frygt, det er Visdom, og at vige fra det onde, det er Forstand.
And He says to man: Behold, fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom, And to turn from evil [is] understanding.”
