Jobs 23

1 Då svara Job og sagde:

Then Job answered and said,

2 «Endå gjeld klaga mi for tråss, tungt legg eg handi på min sukk.

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

3 Berre eg kunde finna honom og koma til hans bustad fram!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

4 Då la eg fram for han mi sak og fyllte munnen min med prov.

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Då høyrde eg kva svar han gav, og merka det han sa til meg.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.

6 Vilde med magt han mot meg standa? Nei, lyda på meg vilde han.

Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 Ein skuldfri stod då for han fram; for alltid slapp eg domar min.

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

8 Gjeng eg i aust, han er’kje der; mot vest, eg vert han ikkje var;

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 i nord han verkar, ei eg ser han, han snur mot sud, eg ser han ikkje.

On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 For all den veg eg fer han kjenner; prøvde han meg, eg var som gull.

But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 Min fot hev fylgt i faret hans; hans veg eg gjeng ubrigdeleg,

My foot has held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 veik ei frå det hans lippa baud, meir enn mi lov eg lydde hans.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 Men ein er han, kven hindrar honom? Det han hev hug til, gjer han og.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.

14 Han um min lagnad avgjerd tek, og hev med meg so mangt i emning.

For he performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Eg difor ræddast for hans åsyn, når eg det minnest, skjelv eg for han.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 Ja, Gud hev brote ned mitt mod, og Allvald hev gjort meg fælen,

For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me:

17 ei er det myrkret som meg tyner, og ei mi eigi myrke åsyn.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face.