Jobs 12
1 Då svara Job og sagde:
And Job made answer and said,
2 «Ja visst, de er dei rette folk, og visdomen døyr ut med dykk.
No doubt you have knowledge, and wisdom will come to an end with you.
3 Men eg hev vit so vel som de; eg ei til atters stend for dykk; kven kjenner ikkje dette fyrr?
But I have a mind as well as you; I am equal to you: yes, who has not knowledge of such things as these?
4 Til spott for venen min vert eg som bad til Gud og bønhøyrd vart. Til spott vert rettvis mann og ærleg.
It seems that I am to be as one who is a cause of laughing to his neighbour, one who makes his prayer to God and is answered! the upright man who has done no wrong is to be made sport of!
5 Vanvyrd ulukka! tenkjer trygg mann, vanvyrdnad ventar deim som vinglar.
In the thought of him who is in comfort there is no respect for one who is in trouble; such is the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
6 Valdsmenn bur roleg i sitt tjeld; trygge er dei som tergar Gud, dei som hev Gud i neven sin.
There is wealth in the tents of those who make destruction, and those by whom God is moved to wrath are safe; even those whose god is their strength.
7 Spør bølingen, han skal deg læra, og fugl i luft, han segja skal,
But put now a question to the beasts, and get teaching from them; or to the birds of the heaven, and they will make it clear to you;
8 og tal til jordi, ho skal læra, og fisk i hav, skal melda deg:
Or to the things which go flat on the earth, and they will give you wisdom; and the fishes of the sea will give you news of it.
9 Kven skynar ei på alt i hop, at Herrens hand hev skapa det?
Who does not see by all these that the hand of the Lord has done this?
10 Kvar livand’ sjæl han hev i handi og åndi åt kvart menneskje.
In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all flesh of man.
11 Vert ordi ei med øyra prøvde, som du med gomen maten smakar?
Are not words tested by the ear, even as food is tasted by the mouth?
12 Hjå folk med gråe hår er visdom, og vit hjå deim som liver lenge.
Old men have wisdom, and a long life gives knowledge.
13 Hjå honom visdom er og kraft, hjå honom råd og dømekraft.
With him there is wisdom and strength; power and knowledge are his.
14 Når han riv ned, kven byggjer upp? Når han set fast, kven løyser ut?
Truly, there is no building up of what is pulled down by him; when a man is shut up by him, no one may let him loose.
15 Han stengjer vatnet, turkar det, slepper det, so det jordi øyder.
Truly, he keeps back the waters and they are dry; he sends them out and the earth is overturned.
16 Hjå honom kraft og klokskap er; han eig båd’ vegvill og vill-leidar;
With him are strength and wise designs; he who is guided into error, together with his guide, are in his hands;
17 rådsherrar fører han som fangar, og domarar han gjer til dårar.
He takes away the wisdom of the wise guides, and makes judges foolish;
18 Han løyser konge-styring upp, legg reip kring livet på deim sjølve.
He undoes the chains of kings, and puts his band on them;
19 Han fører prestar plundra burt og øyder ut eld’-gamle ætter.
He makes priests prisoners, overturning those in safe positions;
20 Han mælet tek frå øvde talar og vitet frå dei gamle menn,
He makes the words of responsible persons without effect, and takes away the good sense of the old;
21 og yver stormenn skam han øys og løyser beltet på dei sterke.
He puts shame on chiefs, and takes away the power of the strong;
22 Han myrkret driv or holor ut og fører dimma fram i dagen.
Uncovering deep things out of the dark, and making the deep shade bright;
23 Han aukar folk og tynar deim; han spreider folk og fører deim;
Increasing nations, and sending destruction on them; making wide the lands of peoples, and then giving them up.
24 Han vitet tek frå jordheimsfyrstar og let veglaus heid deim vildra;
He takes away the wisdom of the rulers of the earth, and sends them wandering in a waste where there is no way.
25 dei sviv i myrkret utan ljos, han let dei raga liksom drukne.
They go feeling about in the dark without light, wandering without help like those overcome with wine.
