Jobs 28
1 Sylv hev sin stad, der dei det finn, og gullet, som dei reinsa vinn,
Silver has its fissures where it is first found, and gold has a place where it is melted.
2 og jarn fram or jordi fær, og kopar ut or steinen bræ’r;
Iron is taken from the earth, and ore, unbound by heat, is turned into brass.
3 På natteskuggen gjer dei slutt og myrkheims steinar granskar ut.
He has established a time for darkness, and he has settled on an end for all things, as well as for the stone that is in the gloom and shadow of death.
4 Djupt under by med annsamt liv i gruvor bergmenn kliv og sviv.
The burning separates a pilgrim people from those who have been forgotten by the feet of the destitute man and from the unapproachable.
5 På jordi brødkorn fram dei driv, men inni upp som eld dei riv.
The land, where bread appeared in its place, has been destroyed by fire.
6 Safiren sit i steinar der, og der seg og gullklumpar ter,
Its stones are embedded with sapphires, and its soil, with gold.
7 Ei ørnen kjenner denne veg, for haukesyn han løyner seg.
The bird does not know its path, nor has the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Ei stolte rovdyr vegen fann, og løva aldri gjeng på han.
The sons of merchants have not walked there, nor has the lioness traveled through it.
9 På harde steinen dei handi legg; då sturtar mang ein bergevegg.
He has stretched out his hand to the rocks; he has overturned the foundations of the mountains.
10 I berget seg gangar grev og skodar mang ein skatt so gjæv.
He has cut rivers through the rocks, and his eye has seen all precious things.
11 Dei dytter til for rennand’ å, det løynde fram for ljoset må.
The depths of rivers he has also examined, and he has brought hidden things into the light.
12 Men visdomen, kvar er han å få? Og kvar skal ein vitet nå?
But, in truth, where is wisdom to be found, and where is the place of understanding?
13 Slett ingen veit hans verd og vinst; i manneheim han ikkje finst;
Man does not know its price, nor is it found in the land of those who live in sweetness.
14 Avgrunnen dyn: «Her ei han er!» Og havet segjer: «Ikkje her!»
The abyss declares, “It is not in me.” And the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 Du kann’kje kjøpa han for gull, men sylv ei vega prisen full,
The finest gold will not be paid for it, nor will silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 og ei for gull ifrå Ofir, ei for onyks, ei for safir.
It will not be compared with the dyed colors of India, nor with the very costly stone sardonyx, nor with the sapphire.
17 Ei gull og glas er nok til kaup, og ei til byte fingull-staup.
Neither gold nor crystal will be its equal; neither will vessels of gold be fitted for it.
18 Korall, krystall gjeld ikkje her. Visdom er meir enn perlor verd.
The exalted and the eminent will not be remembered in comparison with it. Yet wisdom is drawn out of concealment.
19 Topas frå Kus er altfor ring, ja, reinast gull vert ingen ting.
The topaz of Ethiopia will not be equal to it, nor will it be compared to the purest dyes.
20 Visdomen, kvar kjem han ifrå? Og kvar skal ein til vitet nå?
So then, where does wisdom begin, and where is the place of understanding?
21 Det ingen veit på denne jord; ei fugl det fann, kvar helst han for.
It has been hidden from the eyes of all living things, just as the birds of the heavens escape notice.
22 Avgrunn og daude segjer greidt: «Eit gjetord er alt det me veit.»
Perdition and death have said, “With our ears, we have heard its fame.”
23 Men Gud han kjenner denne veg; han veit kvar visdom løyner seg.
God understands its way, and he knows its location.
24 Han skodar heilt til heimsens tram, og under himmeln ser han fram.
For he beholds the limits of the world, and he looks upon all things that are under heaven.
25 Då vinden han med vegti vog og sette mål for vatnet og,
He created a counterweight for the winds, and he suspended the waters to measure them.
26 då han gav regnet lovi si og ljomet veg å ganga i,
At that time, he gave a law to the rain and a path to the resounding storms.
27 då såg han og synte fram og granska honom umhugsam.
Then he saw and explained it, and he made ready and examined it.
28 Til menneskja han sagde so: «I Herrens otte visdom sit, og fly det vonde, det er vit.»»
And he said to man, “Behold the fear of the Lord. Such is wisdom. And to withdraw from evil, this is understanding.”
