Jobs 23

1 Da tok Job til orde og sa:

Then Job replied again,

2 Ennu idag gjelder min klage for å være gjenstridighet; min hånd hviler dog tungt på mitt sukk.

“Today I am again complaining bitterly/strongly [to God]; I [continue] groaning, but he [SYN] [continues to] (punish me/cause me to suffer).

3 Bare jeg visste å finne ham og kunde komme frem til hans trone!

I (wish that I knew/want to know) where I could meet/talk with him, so that I could go to the place where he lives.

4 Jeg skulde legge min sak frem for hans åsyn og fylle min munn med beviser.

If I could do that, I would tell him why [I know that] I am innocent; I would tell [MTY] to him all my (arguments/evidence [to show that I have not done what is evil]).

5 Jeg skulde få vite de ord han vilde svare mig, og merke mig hvad han vilde si til mig.

Then I would find out what he would reply to me [DOU].

6 Skulde han da med full kraft stride mot mig? Mon ikke just han skulde akte på mine ord?

Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would listen to me carefully.

7 Da skulde en rettskaffen mann gå i rette med ham, og jeg skulde slippe fra min dommer for all tid.

I am (an honest/a righteous) man; so I would be able to discuss things with him [fairly], and then he would declare that I am innocent, [and that decision would endure] forever.

8 Men går jeg mot øst, så er han ikke der; går jeg mot vest, så blir jeg ikke var ham;

“But, I have gone to the east, and he is not there; I have gone to the west, but I have not found him there.

9 er han virksom i nord, så ser jeg ham ikke; går han mot syd, så øiner jeg ham ikke.

I have gone north and I have gone south, but I have not seen him anywhere.

10 For han kjenner den vei jeg holder mig til; prøvde han mig, så skulde jeg gå frem av prøven som gullet.

But he knows how I have conducted my life; and when he has finished testing me, [he] will [see that] I [am] as pure as [SIM] gold [whose impurities have all been burned out].

11 Min fot holdt sig i hans spor; jeg fulgte hans vei og bøide ikke av.

I [SYN] have faithfully walked on the path that he showed me; I have not stopped [obeying] him.

12 Fra hans lebers bud vek jeg ikke; fremfor min egen lov aktet jeg på hans munns ord.

I have always obeyed what he [SYN] commanded; I have treasured the words that he has spoken.

13 Men han er den eneste, og hvem hindrer ham? Hvad hans sjel lyster, det gjør han.

“He never changes. There is no one who can [RHQ] stop him [from doing what he desires]. Whatever he wants to do, he does.

14 For han fullbyrder det han har fastsatt for mig, og av sådant er det meget hos ham.

And he will finish doing for me the things that he has planned for me; [and I am sure that] he has thought about doing many things for me.

15 Derfor reddes jeg for ham; tenker jeg på det, så bever jeg for ham.

So I am terrified in his presence; when I think [about what he can do], I am very afraid [DOU].

16 Og Gud har knekket mitt mot, og den Allmektige har forferdet mig,

Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].

17 fordi jeg ikke blev rykket bort før mørket kom, og fordi han ikke skjulte ulykkens natt for mig.

[It is as though] there is only thick darkness in front of me, but it is God that I am afraid of, not the darkness.”