Job 23

1 And Job answers and says:

Då svara Job og sagde:

2 “Also—today my complaint [is] bitter, My hand has been heavy because of my sighing.

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

3 O that I had known—and I find Him, I come to His seat,

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

4 I arrange the cause before Him, And fill my mouth [with] arguments.

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

5 I know the words He answers me, And understand what He says to me.

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

6 Does He strive with me in the abundance of power? No! Surely He puts [it] in me.

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

7 There the upright reason with Him, And I escape from mine who is judging—forever.

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

8 Behold, I go forward—and He is not, And backward—and I do not perceive Him.

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

9 [To] the left in His working—and I do not see, He is covered [on] the right, and I do not behold.

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

10 For He has known the way with me, He has tried me—I go forth as gold.

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

11 My foot has laid hold on His step, I have kept His way, and do not turn aside,

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

12 The command of His lips, and I do not depart. I have laid up above my allotted portion The sayings of His mouth.

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

13 And He [is] in one [mind], And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

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

14 For He completes my portion, And many such things [are] with Him.

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

15 Therefore, I am troubled at His presence, I consider, and am afraid of Him.

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

16 And God has made my heart soft, And the Mighty has troubled me.

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

17 For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness.”

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