Jobs 24
1 Kvi hev’kje Allvald tider set? Kvi ser hans vener ei hans dagar?
Why doesn't the Almighty set a definite time to punish the wicked? Why don't those who follow him never see him act in judgment?
2 Dei fører deildesteinar burt, stel fe og sender det på beite,
The wicked move boundary stones; they seize other people's flocks and move them to their own pastures.
3 tek asnet frå den faderlause; tek kui enkja eig i pant.
They steal the orphan's donkey; they take the widow's ox as security for a debt.
4 Driv fatigfolk frå vegen burt; alt landsens småfolk kryp i skjol;
They push the poor out of their way; the destitute are forced to hide from them.
5 Lik ville asen fer dei ut til øydemarki med sitt stræv; og veidefang på ville heid er maten borni deira fær.
Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor have to scavenge for their food, looking for anything to feed their children in the wasteland.
6 Dei haustar mark ved nattetid, og gudlaus manns vinhage plundrar.
They are forced to find what they can in other people's fields, to glean among the vineyards of the wicked.
7 Um natti nakne, utan klæde, dei hev for kulden inkje dekkje.
They spend the night naked because they have no clothes; they have nothing to cover themselves against the cold.
8 Dei våte vert av regn på fjell, held seg i bergufs utan livd,
They are soaked by the cold mountain storms, and huddle beside the rocks for shelter.
9 Ein farlaus lyt frå moderbarm ein armings klæde gjeng i pant.
Fatherless children are snatched from their mother's breasts, taking the babies of the poor as security for a debt.
10 Dei nakne gjeng og klædelause, i hunger dei på kornband dreg.
Because they have no clothes to wear they have to go naked, harvesting sheaves of grain while they themselves are hungry.
11 Dei kreistar olje innum murar, dei persar vin og tyrster lel.
In the olive groves they work to produce oil, but do not taste it; they tread the winepress, but are thirsty.
12 Frå byen høyrest styn av menner, og gjenomstungne skrik um hjelp, men Gud ser ei slik meningsløysa.
In the city the dying groan, and the wounded cry for help, but God ignores their prayers.
13 Det finst og fiendar åt ljoset; dei kjenner ikkje ljossens vegar og held seg ei på ljossens stigar.
These are people who rebel against the light. They do not want to know its ways, or to stay on its paths.
14 Ved dagsprett mordaren stend upp, slær arm og fatig mann i hel, um natti er han so som tjuven.
The murderer gets up at dawn to kill the poor and needy, and when night falls he becomes a thief.
15 Horkaren spæjar etter skyming; han tenkjer: «Inkje auga ser meg.» Sitt andlit gøymer han med maska.
The adulterer waits for dusk, saying to himself, ‘No one will see me now,’ and he covers his face.
16 I myrkret bryt dei inn i hus, dei som ved dag seg inne stengjer dei seg inne; av ljoset vil dei ikkje vita.
Thieves break into houses during the night and they sleep during the day. They don't even know what the light is like!
17 Myrk natt er morgon for deim alle; for natteskræmslorne dei kjenner.
Total darkness is like light to them, for they are familiar with the night.
18 Snøgt fer han yver vatnet burt, bannstøytt vert jordi hans i landet; til vinberg gjeng han ikkje meir.
Like bubbles on the surface of a river they are quickly carried away. The land they own is cursed by God. They don't enter their own vineyards.
Just as heat and drought dry up snowmelt, so Sheol takes away those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Av moderlivet gløymd han er, og makkar mettar seg på honom; det ingen er som minnest han; so brotsverk brest liksom eit tre.
Even their mothers forget them, maggots feast on them, they are no longer remembered, and their wickedness becomes like a tree that is broken into pieces.
21 Han plundra ho som ikkje fødde, som ufør var til barne-eign; mot enkja gjorde han’kje vel.
They mistreat childless women and are mean to widows.
22 Men han styd valdsmann med si kraft, og dei fær atter standa upp som hadde mist all von um livet.
God prolongs the life of the wicked by his power; but when they arise, they have no assurance of life.
23 Han styd deim so dei liver trygt, hans augo vaktar deira vegar.
He supports them and gives them security, but he is always watching what they're doing.
24 Høgt stig dei, brått - dei er’kje meir - dei sig og døyr som alle andre, vert skorne av som aks på strå.
Though they may be illustrious for a while, soon they are gone. They are brought down like all others, cut off like the heads of grain.
25 Er det’kje so? Kven legg imot? Kven gjer no mine ord um inkje?»
If this isn't so, who can prove I'm a liar and there's nothing to what I say?”
