Job 28
1 Sølvet har jo sit Leje, som renses, sit sted
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 Jern hentes op af Jorden, og Sten smeltes om til Kobber.
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 På Mørket gør man en Ende og ransager indtil de dybeste Kroge Mørkets og Mulmets Sten;
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 under Foden, og glemte, foruden Fodfæste, hænger de svævende fjernt fra Mennesker.
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 fremvokser Brød, imedens dens Indre omvæltes som af Ild;
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 i Stenen der sidder Safiren, og der er Guldstøv i den.
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 Stien derhen er Rovfuglen ukendt, Falkens Øje udspejder den ikke;
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 den trædes ikke af stolte Vilddyr, Løven skrider ej frem ad den.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 På Flinten lægger man Hånd og omvælter Bjerge fra Roden;
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 i Klipperne hugger man Gange, alskens Klenodier skuer Øjet;
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 man tilstopper Strømmenes Kilder og bringer det skjulte for Lyset.
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 Men Visdommen - hvor mon den findes, og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Mennesket kender ikke dens Vej, den findes ej i de levendes Land;
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 Dybet siger: "I mig er den ikke!" Havet: "Ej heller hos mig!"
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 Man får den ej for det fineste Guld, for Sølv kan den ikke købes,
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 den opvejes ikke med Ofirguld, med kostelig Sjoham eller Safir;
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 Guld og Glar kan ej måle sig med den, den fås ej i Bytte for gyldne Kar,
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Krystal og Koraller ikke at nævne. At eje Visdom er mere end Perler,
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 Ætiopiens Topas kan ej måle sig med den, den opvejes ej 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 - hvor mon den kommer fra, og hvor er Indsigtens Sted?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 Den er dulgt for alt levendes Øje og skjult for Himmelens Fugle;
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 Afgrund og Død må sige: "Vi hørte kun tale derom."
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 Gud er kendt med dens Vej, han ved, hvor den har sit Sted;
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 thi han skuer til Jordens Ender, alt under Himmelen ser han.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 Dengang han fastsatte Vindens Vægt og målte Vandet med Mål,
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 da han satte en Lov for Regnen, afmærked Tordenskyen dens Vej,
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 da skued og mønstred han den, han stilled den op og ransaged den.
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 Men til Mennesket sagde han: "Se, HERRENs Frygt, det er Visdom, at sky det onde er Indsigt."
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
