< Jobs 23 >

1 Da tok Job til orde og sa:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Ennu idag gjelder min klage for å være gjenstridighet; min hånd hviler dog tungt på mitt sukk.
“Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy because of my groaning.
3 Bare jeg visste å finne ham og kunde komme frem til hans trone!
Oh, that I knew where I might find him! Oh, that I might come to his place!
4 Jeg skulde legge min sak frem for hans åsyn og fylle min munn med beviser.
I would lay my case in order before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 Jeg skulde få vite de ord han vilde svare mig, og merke mig hvad han vilde si til mig.
I would learn the words with which he would answer me and would understand what he would say to me.
6 Skulde han da med full kraft stride mot mig? Mon ikke just han skulde akte på mine ord?
Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power? No, he would pay attention to me.
7 Da skulde en rettskaffen mann gå i rette med ham, og jeg skulde slippe fra min dommer for all tid.
There the upright person might argue with him. In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 Men går jeg mot øst, så er han ikke der; går jeg mot vest, så blir jeg ikke var ham;
See, I go eastward, but he is not there, and westward, but I cannot perceive him.
9 er han virksom i nord, så ser jeg ham ikke; går han mot syd, så øiner jeg ham ikke.
To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him, and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.
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 the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.
11 Min fot holdt sig i hans spor; jeg fulgte hans vei og bøide ikke av.
My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept to his way and turned not aside.
12 Fra hans lebers bud vek jeg ikke; fremfor min egen lov aktet jeg på hans munns ord.
I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
13 Men han er den eneste, og hvem hindrer ham? Hvad hans sjel lyster, det gjør han.
But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back? What he desires, he does.
14 For han fullbyrder det han har fastsatt for mig, og av sådant er det meget hos ham.
For he carries out his decree against me; there are many like them.
15 Derfor reddes jeg for ham; tenker jeg på det, så bever jeg for ham.
Therefore, I am terrified in his presence; when I think about him, I am afraid of him.
16 Og Gud har knekket mitt mot, og den Allmektige har forferdet mig,
For God has made my heart weak; the Almighty has terrified me.
17 fordi jeg ikke blev rykket bort før mørket kom, og fordi han ikke skjulte ulykkens natt for mig.
I have not been brought to an end by darkness, because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.

< Jobs 23 >