Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Då tok Elifaz frå Teman til ords og sagde:
2 “Can a man be useful to God? Can a wise man be useful to him?
«Er mannen vel til gagn for Gud? Nei, vitug mann seg sjølv mun gagna.
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous? Is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
Hev Allvald bate av di rettferd? Er det hans vinst, at rett du ferdast?
4 Is it because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you and takes you to judgment?
Er det din gudlegdom han refser, når han med deg held rettargang?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Is there no end to your iniquities?
Hev ei din vondskap vore stor og dine syndar utan ende?
6 For you have demanded guarantee of a loan from your brother for no reason, and you have stripped away clothing from the naked.
Grunnlaust du panta dine brøder; halvnakne drog du klædi av;
7 You have not given water to weary people to drink; you have withheld bread from hungry people
den trøytte gav du ikkje vatn, den svoltne negta du ditt brød.
8 although you, a mighty man, possessed the earth, although you, an honored man, lived in it.
Det er den sterke som eig landet, den stolte hev si bustad der.
9 You have sent widows away empty; the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
Du jaga enkjor burt tomhendt’ burt, slo armen av på faderlause.
10 Therefore, snares are all around you, and sudden fear troubles you.
Difor ligg snaror kringum deg, og rædsla skræmer deg so brått.
11 There is darkness, so that you cannot see; an abundance of waters covers you.
Ell’ vert du ikkje myrkret var, den flaum som fossar yver deg?
12 Is not God in the heights of heaven? Look at the height of the stars, how high they are!
Bur ikkje Gud i himmelhøgd, sjå øvste stjernor, høgt dei sit!
13 You say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?
Du segjer so: «Kva veit vel Gud? Kann attum skyerne han døma?
14 Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see us; he walks on the vault of heaven.'
For skyer dimmer augo hans; han hev sin gang på himmelkvelven.»
15 Will you keep the old way that wicked men have walked—
Seg, vil du fylgja fortids-vegen, den stig som illverksmenner gjekk?
16 those who were snatched away before their time, those whose foundations have washed away like a river,
Dei som i utid tekne vart - og deira grunn flaut burt i flaum -
17 those who said to God, 'Depart from us'; those who said, 'What can the Almighty do to us?'
som sagde til Gud: «Haldt du deg burte!» Kva skulde Allvald vel deim gjera?
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things; the plans of wicked people are far from me.
Endå han signa deira hus - langt burt frå meg med gudlaus råd!
19 Righteous people see their fate and are glad; innocent people laugh them to scorn.
Rettvise folk det såg med gleda, og den skuldlause spotta deim:
20 They say, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off; fire has consumed their possessions.'
«Fiendarn’ våre gjekk til grunns! Sjå elden øydde det dei leivde!»
21 Now agree with God and be at peace with him; in that way, good will come to you.
Vert ven med honom, og få fred! So skal og lukka timast deg.
22 Receive, I beg you, instruction from his mouth; store up his words in your heart.
Og tak so lærdom av hans munn, og legg deg ordi hans på hjarta!
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up, if you put unrighteousness far away from your tents.
Vend um til Allvald, då du byggjest og jagar syndi frå ditt tjeld.
24 Lay your treasure down in the dust, the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,
Kast gullet ditt i moldi ned - Ofir-gull millom bekkjesteinar.
25 and the Almighty will be your treasure, precious silver to you.
Allvald skal vera då ditt gull og haugar utav sylv for deg.
26 For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty; you will lift up your face to God.
Då skal du frygda deg i Allvald, di åsyn lyfta upp til Gud.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you; you will pay your vows to him.
Og når du ropar, vil han høyra, so du kann halda det du lovar.
28 You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you; light will shine on your paths.
Det du deg etlar, skal du vinna, og ljos skal skina på din veg.
29 God humbles a proud man, and he saves the one with lowered eyes.
Gjeng vegen ned, du ropar: «Upp!» Han hjelpar den bljug-øygde mann.
30 He will rescue even the man who is not innocent; who will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”
Ja, ikkje-skuldfri mann han bergar, frelst vert han ved di reine hand.»
