Jobs 21
1 Då svara Job og sagde:
Then Job answered:
2 «Å høyr då, høyr på mine ord! Gjev i minsto det til trøyst!
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.
3 Lat meg få lov å tala ut, so kann du spotta etterpå.
Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.
4 Klagar eg vel på menneskje? Og hev eg ikkje grunn til harm?
Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?
5 Vend dykk til meg, og ottast so; legg handi so på dykkar munn.
Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.
6 Eg støkk, når eg det kjem i hug; ei bivring gjenom kroppen gjeng.
When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.
7 Kvifor fær dei gudlause liva, auka i magt som åri gjeng?
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8 Dei ser si ætt stå fast ikring deim, dei hev sitt avkjøme for augo.
Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 I fred stend husi deira trygge, Guds svipa råkar ikkje deim;
Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10 med heppa parast deira fe, og kyrne kastar aldri kalv.
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
11 Dei slepper borni ut som lamb, og gutarne i leiken hoppar;
They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,
12 Dei syng til trumma og til cither og frygdar seg ved fløyteljod.
singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 Til Gud dei segjer: «Haldt deg burte!» Me vil’kje kjenna dine vegar!
Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
15 Kvi skal me tena den Allsterke? Kva gagnar det å be til honom?»
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
16 «Dei hev’kje lukka si i handi» - Langt burt frå meg med gudlaus råd!
Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
17 Når sloknar lampa for gudlause? Når kjem ulukka yver deim? Gjev han deim straff i vreidesmod?
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
18 Fer dei vel burt som strå for vind, lik agner som i stormen fyk?
Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?
19 «Gud gøymer straffi til hans born.» Nei, sjølv skal mannen straffi kjenna!
It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.
20 Lat han få sjå sitt eige fall og drikka harm frå den Allsterke!
Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Kva bryr han seg vel um sitt hus, når månadstalet hans er fullt?
For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?
22 Vil nokon hjelpa Gud til kunnskap, han som er domar for dei høgste?
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
23 Den eine døyr på velmagts høgd, fullkomleg trygg og fredeleg;
One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.
24 hans fat er fulle utav mjølk, og i hans bein er mergen frisk;
His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.
25 den andre døyr so beisk i hug, hev ingenting av lukka smaka.
Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26 Dei båe vert i moldi lagde, og deira klednad makkar er.
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.
27 Sjå kor eg kjennar dykkar tankar, og dykkar meinkrokar mot meg.
Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 De spør: «Kvar er vel stormannshuset? Kvar er det tjeld der gudlause bur?»
For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’
29 Hev de’kje høyrt av ferdafolk - de trur vel det som dei fortel -:
Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?
30 «Den vonde frå ulukka slepp; han berga vert på vreidedagen.
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.
31 Kven lastar honom for hans ferd? Og straffar honom for hans gjerd?
Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?
32 Han vert til gravi båren burt, og ved hans gravhaug held dei vakt.
He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 Søtt søv han under torv i dal, og i hans far all verdi fer, som tallause gjekk fyre honom.
The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.
34 Det trøystar meg med tome ord; av dykkar svar er sviket att.»
So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”
