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.
Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.
3 Berre eg kunde finna honom og koma til hans bustad fram!
Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?
4 Då la eg fram for han mi sak og fyllte munnen min med prov.
And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.
5 Då høyrde eg kva svar han gav, og merka det han sa til meg.
And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.
6 Vilde med magt han mot meg standa? Nei, lyda på meg vilde han.
Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;
7 Ein skuldfri stod då for han fram; for alltid slapp eg domar min.
for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.
8 Gjeng eg i aust, han er’kje der; mot vest, eg vert han ikkje var;
For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?
9 i nord han verkar, ei eg ser han, han snur mot sud, eg ser han ikkje.
When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].
10 For all den veg eg fer han kjenner; prøvde han meg, eg var som gull.
For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.
11 Min fot hev fylgt i faret hans; hans veg eg gjeng ubrigdeleg,
And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,
12 veik ei frå det hans lippa baud, meir enn mi lov eg lydde hans.
neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
13 Men ein er han, kven hindrar honom? Det han hev hug til, gjer han og.
And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.
14 Han um min lagnad avgjerd tek, og hev med meg so mangt i emning.
15 Eg difor ræddast for hans åsyn, når eg det minnest, skjelv eg for han.
Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.
16 Ja, Gud hev brote ned mitt mod, og Allvald hev gjort meg fælen,
But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.
17 ei er det myrkret som meg tyner, og ei mi eigi myrke åsyn.
For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.
