Jobs 28
1 Sylv hev sin stad, der dei det finn, og gullet, som dei reinsa vinn,
For truly there is a source for the silver, and a place for the gold which men refine.
2 og jarn fram or jordi fær, og kopar ut or steinen bræ’r;
Iron is taken out of the dust, and the stone is melted into copper.
3 På natteskuggen gjer dei slutt og myrkheims steinar granskar ut.
An end doth he set to darkness, and the very utmost limit doth he search out, the stones of darkness, and of the shadow of death.
4 Djupt under by med annsamt liv i gruvor bergmenn kliv og sviv.
He breaketh a channel far from the inhabited place; those of unsteady foot, the poorest of men move [there about].
5 På jordi brødkorn fram dei driv, men inni upp som eld dei riv.
The earth, out of which cometh forth bread, is under its surface turned up as it were with fire.
6 Safiren sit i steinar der, og der seg og gullklumpar ter,
Her stones are the place whence the sapphire cometh; and golden dust is also there;
7 Ei ørnen kjenner denne veg, for haukesyn han løyner seg.
[On the] path which no bird of prey knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not surveyed;
8 Ei stolte rovdyr vegen fann, og løva aldri gjeng på han.
[Which] ravenous beasts have never trodden, over which the lion hath never passed.
9 På harde steinen dei handi legg; då sturtar mang ein bergevegg.
To the flinty rock he stretcheth forth his hand; he overturneth the mountains from the root.
10 I berget seg gangar grev og skodar mang ein skatt so gjæv.
Amid rocks he heweth out canals: and every precious thing doth his eye behold.
11 Dei dytter til for rennand’ å, det løynde fram for ljoset må.
The various droppings of water he uniteth into streams, and what is hidden he bringeth forth to light.
12 Men visdomen, kvar er han å få? Og kvar skal ein vitet nå?
But wisdom—where shall she he found? and where is the place of understanding?
13 Slett ingen veit hans verd og vinst; i manneheim han ikkje finst;
Man knoweth not her value: and she is not to be found in the land of the living.
14 Avgrunnen dyn: «Her ei han er!» Og havet segjer: «Ikkje her!»
The deep saith, Not in me is she: and the sea saith, She is not with me.
15 Du kann’kje kjøpa han for gull, men sylv ei vega prisen full,
No fine gold can be given in lieu of her, and silver cannot be weighed out as her price.
16 og ei for gull ifrå Ofir, ei for onyks, ei for safir.
She cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
17 Ei gull og glas er nok til kaup, og ei til byte fingull-staup.
She cannot be estimated after gold and glass; and not in exchange for her [can] vessels of refined gold [be taken.]
18 Korall, krystall gjeld ikkje her. Visdom er meir enn perlor verd.
Coral and crystal will not be thought of; and the value of wisdom is above pearls.
19 Topas frå Kus er altfor ring, ja, reinast gull vert ingen ting.
She cannot be estimated after the topaz of Ethiopia, nor can she be valued with pure gold.
20 Visdomen, kvar kjem han ifrå? Og kvar skal ein til vitet nå?
But wisdom—whence cometh she? and where is the place of understanding?
21 Det ingen veit på denne jord; ei fugl det fann, kvar helst han for.
Yea, she is hidden from the eyes of all living, and from the fowls of the heavens is she concealed.
22 Avgrunn og daude segjer greidt: «Eit gjetord er alt det me veit.»
Perdition and death say, With our ears have we heard a report of her.
23 Men Gud han kjenner denne veg; han veit kvar visdom løyner seg.
God [alone] understandeth her way, and he knoweth her place;
24 Han skodar heilt til heimsens tram, og under himmeln ser han fram.
For he looketh to the ends of the earth, [whatever is] under the whole heaven doth he see.
25 Då vinden han med vegti vog og sette mål for vatnet og,
When he imparted weight unto the wind; and [when] the waters he established by measure;
26 då han gav regnet lovi si og ljomet veg å ganga i,
When he made a law for the rain, and a way for the lightning of [his] thunders;
27 då såg han og synte fram og granska honom umhugsam.
Then did he see her, and make her known; he established her, and also searched her out.
28 Til menneskja han sagde so: «I Herrens otte visdom sit, og fly det vonde, det er vit.»»
And he said unto man, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to eschew evil is understanding.
