Jobs 28
1 Sylv hev sin stad, der dei det finn, og gullet, som dei reinsa vinn,
Silver hath beginnings of its veins, and gold hath a place wherein it is melted.
2 og jarn fram or jordi fær, og kopar ut or steinen bræ’r;
Iron is taken out of the earth, and stone melted with heat is turned into brass.
3 På natteskuggen gjer dei slutt og myrkheims steinar granskar ut.
He hath set a time for darkness, and the end of all things he considereth, the stone also that is in the dark and the shadow of death.
4 Djupt under by med annsamt liv i gruvor bergmenn kliv og sviv.
The flood divideth from the people that are on their journey, those whom the food of the needy man hath forgotten, and who cannot be come at.
5 På jordi brødkorn fram dei driv, men inni upp som eld dei riv.
The land, out of which bread grew in its place, hath been overturned with fire.
6 Safiren sit i steinar der, og der seg og gullklumpar ter,
The stones of it are the place of sapphires, and the clods of it are gold.
7 Ei ørnen kjenner denne veg, for haukesyn han løyner seg.
The bird hath not known the path, neither hath the eye of the vulture beheld it.
8 Ei stolte rovdyr vegen fann, og løva aldri gjeng på han.
The children of the merchants have not trodden it, neither hath the lioness passed by it.
9 På harde steinen dei handi legg; då sturtar mang ein bergevegg.
He hath stretched forth his hand to the flint, he hath overturned mountains from the roots.
10 I berget seg gangar grev og skodar mang ein skatt so gjæv.
In the rocks he hath cut out rivers, and his eye hath seen every precious thing.
11 Dei dytter til for rennand’ å, det løynde fram for ljoset må.
The depths also of rivers he hath searched, and hidden things he hath brought forth to light.
12 Men visdomen, kvar er han å få? Og kvar skal ein vitet nå?
But 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 knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of them that live in delights.
14 Avgrunnen dyn: «Her ei han er!» Og havet segjer: «Ikkje her!»
The depth saith: It is not in me: and the sea saith: It is not with me.
15 Du kann’kje kjøpa han for gull, men sylv ei vega prisen full,
The finest gold shall not purchase it, neither shall silver be weighed in exchange for it.
16 og ei for gull ifrå Ofir, ei for onyks, ei for safir.
It shall not be compared with the dyed colours of India, or with the most precious stone sardonyx, or the sapphire.
17 Ei gull og glas er nok til kaup, og ei til byte fingull-staup.
Gold or crystal cannot equal it, neither shall any vessels of gold be changed for it.
18 Korall, krystall gjeld ikkje her. Visdom er meir enn perlor verd.
High and eminent things shall not be mentioned in comparison of it: but wisdom is drawn out of secret places.
19 Topas frå Kus er altfor ring, ja, reinast gull vert ingen ting.
The topaz of Ethiopia shall not be equal to it, neither shall it be compared to the cleanest dyeing.
20 Visdomen, kvar kjem han ifrå? Og kvar skal ein til vitet nå?
Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Det ingen veit på denne jord; ei fugl det fann, kvar helst han for.
It is hid from the eyes of all living. and the fowls of the air know it not.
22 Avgrunn og daude segjer greidt: «Eit gjetord er alt det me veit.»
Destruction and death have said: With our ears we have heard the fame thereof.
23 Men Gud han kjenner denne veg; han veit kvar visdom løyner seg.
God understandeth the way of it, and he knoweth the place thereof.
24 Han skodar heilt til heimsens tram, og under himmeln ser han fram.
For he beholdeth the ends of the world: and looketh on all things that are under heaven.
25 Då vinden han med vegti vog og sette mål for vatnet og,
Who made a weight for the winds and weighed the waters by measure.
26 då han gav regnet lovi si og ljomet veg å ganga i,
When he gave a law for the rain, and a way for the sounding storms.
27 då såg han og synte fram og granska honom umhugsam.
Then he saw it, and declared, and prepared, and searched 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, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil, is understanding.
