< Job 21 >

1 But Job answered and said,
Då svara Job og sagde:
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
«Å høyr då, høyr på mine ord! Gjev i minsto det til trøyst!
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Lat meg få lov å tala ut, so kann du spotta etterpå.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
Klagar eg vel på menneskje? Og hev eg ikkje grunn til harm?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand on your mouth.
Vend dykk til meg, og ottast so; legg handi so på dykkar munn.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling takes hold on my flesh.
Eg støkk, når eg det kjem i hug; ei bivring gjenom kroppen gjeng.
7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, are mighty in power?
Kvifor fær dei gudlause liva, auka i magt som åri gjeng?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Dei ser si ætt stå fast ikring deim, dei hev sitt avkjøme for augo.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God on them.
I fred stend husi deira trygge, Guds svipa råkar ikkje deim;
10 Their bull engenders, and fails not; their cow calves, and casts not her calf.
med heppa parast deira fe, og kyrne kastar aldri kalv.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Dei slepper borni ut som lamb, og gutarne i leiken hoppar;
12 They take the tambourine and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Dei syng til trumma og til cither og frygdar seg ved fløyteljod.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
I lukka liver dei si tid og fer so brått til helheim ned. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say to God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
Til Gud dei segjer: «Haldt deg burte!» Me vil’kje kjenna dine vegar!
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray to him?
Kvi skal me tena den Allsterke? Kva gagnar det å be til honom?»
16 See, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
«Dei hev’kje lukka si i handi» - Langt burt frå meg med gudlaus råd!
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction on them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
Når sloknar lampa for gudlause? Når kjem ulukka yver deim? Gjev han deim straff i vreidesmod?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
Fer dei vel burt som strå for vind, lik agner som i stormen fyk?
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
«Gud gøymer straffi til hans born.» Nei, sjølv skal mannen straffi kjenna!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Lat han få sjå sitt eige fall og drikka harm frå den Allsterke!
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the middle?
Kva bryr han seg vel um sitt hus, når månadstalet hans er fullt?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
Vil nokon hjelpa Gud til kunnskap, han som er domar for dei høgste?
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
Den eine døyr på velmagts høgd, fullkomleg trygg og fredeleg;
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
hans fat er fulle utav mjølk, og i hans bein er mergen frisk;
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
den andre døyr so beisk i hug, hev ingenting av lukka smaka.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Dei båe vert i moldi lagde, og deira klednad makkar er.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
Sjå kor eg kjennar dykkar tankar, og dykkar meinkrokar mot meg.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
De spør: «Kvar er vel stormannshuset? Kvar er det tjeld der gudlause bur?»
29 Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens,
Hev de’kje høyrt av ferdafolk - de trur vel det som dei fortel -:
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
«Den vonde frå ulukka slepp; han berga vert på vreidedagen.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
Kven lastar honom for hans ferd? Og straffar honom for hans gjerd?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
Han vert til gravi båren burt, og ved hans gravhaug held dei vakt.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
Søtt søv han under torv i dal, og i hans far all verdi fer, som tallause gjekk fyre honom.
34 How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
Det trøystar meg med tome ord; av dykkar svar er sviket att.»

< Job 21 >