Job 23

1 Then Job answered:

Då svara Job og sagde:

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

«Endå gjeld klaga mi for tråss, tungt legg eg handi på min sukk.

3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

Berre eg kunde finna honom og koma til hans bustad fram!

4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.

Då la eg fram for han mi sak og fyllte munnen min med prov.

5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

Då høyrde eg kva svar han gav, og merka det han sa til meg.

6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.

Vilde med magt han mot meg standa? Nei, lyda på meg vilde han.

7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

Ein skuldfri stod då for han fram; for alltid slapp eg domar min.

8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.

Gjeng eg i aust, han er’kje der; mot vest, eg vert han ikkje var;

9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.

i nord han verkar, ei eg ser han, han snur mot sud, eg ser han ikkje.

10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

For all den veg eg fer han kjenner; prøvde han meg, eg var som gull.

11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.

Min fot hev fylgt i faret hans; hans veg eg gjeng ubrigdeleg,

12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

veik ei frå det hans lippa baud, meir enn mi lov eg lydde hans.

13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

Men ein er han, kven hindrar honom? Det han hev hug til, gjer han og.

14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

Han um min lagnad avgjerd tek, og hev med meg so mangt i emning.

15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.

Eg difor ræddast for hans åsyn, når eg det minnest, skjelv eg for han.

16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

Ja, Gud hev brote ned mitt mod, og Allvald hev gjort meg fælen,

17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

ei er det myrkret som meg tyner, og ei mi eigi myrke åsyn.