Jobs 15
1 Då tok Elifaz frå Teman til ords og sagde:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 «Kjem svar i vind og ver frå vismann? Fyller han barmen sin med storm?
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3 Vil han med ugangstale lasta? Med ord som nyttelause er?
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4 Otten for Gud den bryt du ned og skjeplar andakt for Guds åsyn.
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5 For syndi styrer munnen din; du talar som dei falske talar.
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Din munn deg dømer, ikkje eg; og dine lippor vitnar mot deg.
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7 Vart fyrst av menneskje du fødd? Vert fyre haugarne du avla?
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Var du i Guds rådleggjing med? Og fekk du visdom til deg rana?
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9 Kva veit du som me ikkje veit? Kva skynar du som me ei kjenner?
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Gråhærd og gamling er hjå oss; han eldre er enn jamvel far din.
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11 Er trøyst frå Gud det altfor ring? Vanvyrder du eit rolegt ord?
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12 Kvi let du hugen eggja deg? Kvi let du auga rulla vilt?
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 For imot Gud din harm du snur og let or munnen ordi strøyma.
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14 Kor kann vel mannen vera rein? Og kvinnefødde hava rett?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 På sine heilage han lit ei; for honom er’kje himmeln rein,
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 langt mindre då ein styggeting, ein mann som urett drikk som med vatn.
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17 Eg vil deg læra; høyr på meg! Det som eg såg, vil eg deg melda,
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18 det som vismenner segja kann, og ei hev dult frå sine feder,
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 dei som åleine landet åtte, og ingen framand kom bland deim.
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 Den vonde stødt i uro liver, for valdsmann gøymt er fåe år.
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 I øyro rædsletonar ljomar; fyrr han veit av, kjem tynaren.
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 Han trur’kje han kann fly frå myrkret; han venta lyt det kvasse sverd.
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23 Han leitar etter brød: Kvar er det? Han veit, ein myrk dag er for hand.
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Naud, trengsla skræmer, tyngjer honom, liksom ein konge budd til strid.
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25 For imot Gud han lyfte handi og våga tråssa Allvalds-Gud,
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26 han storma fram med nakken lyft, med vern utav skjold-ryggjer sterke;
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27 han dekte andlitet med feitt og gjorde sine lender feite.
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28 Han budde i bannstøytte byar, i hus som ingen burde bu i, men til grushaugar etla var.
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29 Han vart’kje rik, hans gods kverv burt, hans grøda luter ei mot jordi.
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30 Han kann’kje koma undan myrkret. Hans greiner turkast burt i hiten, og han kjem burt ved hans munns ande.
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 Trur han på fåfengd, vert han narra, og berre fåfengd haustar han.
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 Fyrr dagen kjem, då vert det uppfyllt, hans palmegreiner grønkar ikkje.
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33 Lik vinstokk misser han si druva, spiller sin blom som oljetreet.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34 Ein syndarflokk set ingi frukt, og elden øyder mute- tjeldi.
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 Dei avlar møda, føder tjon, og svik i fanget sitt dei nører.»
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
