Job 21
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
Då svara Job og sagde:
2 Hear ye patiently my words, and let this be your consolation:
«Å høyr då, høyr på mine ord! Gjev i minsto det til trøyst!
3 Suffer me, that, I, may speak, and, after I have spoken, thou canst mock!
Lat meg få lov å tala ut, so kann du spotta etterpå.
4 Did, I, unto man, make my complaint? Wherefore, then, should my spirit not be impatient?
Klagar eg vel på menneskje? Og hev eg ikkje grunn til harm?
5 Turn round to me, and be astonished, and lay hand on mouth!
Vend dykk til meg, og ottast so; legg handi so på dykkar munn.
6 When I call to mind, then am I dismayed, and there seizeth my flesh a shuddering: —
Eg støkk, når eg det kjem i hug; ei bivring gjenom kroppen gjeng.
7 Wherefore do, lawless men, live, advance in years, even wax mighty in power?
Kvifor fær dei gudlause liva, auka i magt som åri gjeng?
8 Their seed, is established in their sight, along with them, yea their offspring, before their eyes;
Dei ser si ætt stå fast ikring deim, dei hev sitt avkjøme for augo.
9 Their houses, are at peace, without dread, neither is, the rod of GOD, upon them;
I fred stend husi deira trygge, Guds svipa råkar ikkje deim;
10 His bull, covereth, and causeth not aversion, His cow safely calveth, and casteth not her young;
med heppa parast deira fe, og kyrne kastar aldri kalv.
11 They send forth—like a flock—their young ones, and, their children, skip about for joy;
Dei slepper borni ut som lamb, og gutarne i leiken hoppar;
12 They rejoice aloud as [with] timbrel and lyre, and make merry to the sound of the pipe;
Dei syng til trumma og til cither og frygdar seg ved fløyteljod.
13 They complete, in prosperity, their days, and, in a moment to hades, they sink down. (Sheol h7585)
I lukka liver dei si tid og fer so brått til helheim ned. (Sheol h7585)
14 Yet they said unto GOD, Depart from us, and, In the knowledge of thy ways, find we no pleasure.
Til Gud dei segjer: «Haldt deg burte!» Me vil’kje kjenna dine vegar!
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? Or what shall we profit, that we should urge him?
Kvi skal me tena den Allsterke? Kva gagnar det å be til honom?»
16 Lo! not in their own hand, is their welfare, The counsel of lawless men, is far from me!
«Dei hev’kje lukka si i handi» - Langt burt frå meg med gudlaus råd!
17 How oft, the lamp of the lawless, goeth out, and their calamity, cometh upon them, Sorrows, apportioneth he in his anger;
Når sloknar lampa for gudlause? Når kjem ulukka yver deim? Gjev han deim straff i vreidesmod?
18 They become as straw before the wind, and as chaff, which the storm stealeth away.
Fer dei vel burt som strå for vind, lik agner som i stormen fyk?
19 Shall, GOD, reserve, for his children, his sorrow? Let him recompense him so that he may know it;
«Gud gøymer straffi til hans born.» Nei, sjølv skal mannen straffi kjenna!
20 His own eyes, shall see his misfortune, and, the wrath of the Almighty, shall he drink.
Lat han få sjå sitt eige fall og drikka harm frå den Allsterke!
21 For what shall be his pleasure in his house after him, when, the number of his months, is cut in twain?
Kva bryr han seg vel um sitt hus, når månadstalet hans er fullt?
22 Is it, to GOD, one can teach knowledge, seeing that, he, shall judge, them who are on high?
Vil nokon hjelpa Gud til kunnskap, han som er domar for dei høgste?
23 This, man dieth, in the very perfection of his prosperity, wholly tranquil and secure;
Den eine døyr på velmagts høgd, fullkomleg trygg og fredeleg;
24 His veins, are filled with nourishment, and, the marrow of his bones, is fresh;
hans fat er fulle utav mjølk, og i hans bein er mergen frisk;
25 Whereas, this other man, dieth, in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted good fortune:
den andre døyr so beisk i hug, hev ingenting av lukka smaka.
26 Together, in the dust, they lie down, and, the worm, spreadeth a covering over them.
Dei båe vert i moldi lagde, og deira klednad makkar er.
27 Lo! I know your plans, and the devices, wherewith ye would do me violence!
Sjå kor eg kjennar dykkar tankar, og dykkar meinkrokar mot meg.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? And where the dwelling-tent of the lawless?
De spør: «Kvar er vel stormannshuset? Kvar er det tjeld der gudlause bur?»
29 Have ye not asked the passers-by in the way? And, their signs, can ye not recognise?
Hev de’kje høyrt av ferdafolk - de trur vel det som dei fortel -:
30 That, to the day of calamity, is the wicked reserved, to the day of indignant visitation, are they led.
«Den vonde frå ulukka slepp; han berga vert på vreidedagen.
31 Who can declare—to his face—his way? And, what, he, hath done, who shall recompense to him?
Kven lastar honom for hans ferd? Og straffar honom for hans gjerd?
32 Yet, he, to the graves, is borne, and, over the tomb, one keepeth watch;
Han vert til gravi båren burt, og ved hans gravhaug held dei vakt.
33 Pleasant to him are the mounds of the torrent-bed, —and, after him, doth every man march, as, before him, there were without number.
Søtt søv han under torv i dal, og i hans far all verdi fer, som tallause gjekk fyre honom.
34 How then should ye comfort me with vanity, since, as for your replies, there lurketh, [in them] treachery?
Det trøystar meg med tome ord; av dykkar svar er sviket att.»
