Jobs 31
1 Med augo hev eg gjort ei pakt; eg skal’kje skygna etter møy.
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 Kva gav meg elles Gud der uppe? Kva arv gav Allvald frå det høge?
For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Kjem ikkje udådsmann i naud? Og illgjersmenn i ulukka?
Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 Ser ikkje han på mine vegar? Tel ikkje han kvart stig eg gjeng?
Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 Dersom eg fram med fals hev fare, og foten sprunge etter svik
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 - Gud vege meg på rettferds vegt, so han kann sjå eg skuldlaus er! -
let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 Veik mine stig frå vegen av, hev hjarta etter augo gjenge, var det ein flekk på mine hender,
If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8 so gjev ein annan et mitt såd, og riv mi planting upp med rot!
then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 Let eg min hug av kvinna dåra, sneik eg til grannens dør meg fram,
If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 so lat mitt viv åt andre mala, og andre yver ho seg bøygje!
then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 For dette er ei skjemdarferd, eit brot som dom og straff fortener,
For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 ein eld som eta vil til avgrunns og øydeleggja all mi eiga.
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 Vanvyrd’ eg retten åt min træl og trælkvinna i trætta med deim?
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 - Kva gjord’ eg då, når Gud reis upp? Kva svara eg, når han meg klaga?
what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 Dei er som meg i morsliv skapte; ein forma oss i moderfang -
Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16 Um eg sagde nei når arming bad, og let enkja gråtande gå burt,
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 hev eg mitt brød åleine ete, so farlaus inkje fekk ein bit,
if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 - nei, far for han eg var frå yngdi, frå morsliv var eg hennar førar -
though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19 Såg eg ein stakar utan klæde, ein fatig utan yverplagg,
if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 og so hans lender ei meg signa, og ei mi saueull han vermde,
if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 hev eg mot farlaus handi lyft, av di eg medhald fekk i retten:
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22 Let herdi mi or led då losna, og armen brotna frå sitt bein!
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 For eg var ovleg rædd Guds straff, eg magtlaus stod framfor hans velde.
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 Um eg mi lit til gullet sette, og voni til det fine gull,
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 Gledde eg meg ved auka rikdom, og alt eg vann meg med mi hand,
if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 såg eg på ljoset når det stråla, på månen der han skreid i glans,
if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 vart hjarta mitt i løyndom dåra, so kyss på hand til deim eg sende,
so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 so var det og straffande brot, då neitta eg min Gud der uppe.
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 Hev eg meg gledt ved uvens uferd, og jubla når han kom i skade,
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 - men eg let ikkje munnen synda og banna honom ifrå livet -
I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 hev ei mitt husfolk stendigt sagt: «Kven gjekk vel svolten frå hans bord?»
if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 - Eg let’kje framand natta ute; for ferdamann eg opna døri -
but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 hev eg som Adam dult mi synd, og løynt mi misgjerd i min barm,
if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 di eg var rædd den store hop og ottast spott frå ættefrendar, so stilt eg heldt meg innum dører?
because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35 Å, vilde nokon høyra på meg! Sjå her er underskrifti mi, lat berre Allvald svara meg! Fekk eg den skrift min motpart skreiv,
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36 den skulde eg på oksli bera og binda på meg som ein krans
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 eg melde honom kvart mitt stig, og som ein hovding møta honom.
I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 Dersom min åker klagar meg, og um plogforerne lyt gråta,
if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 åt eg hans grøda ubetalt, tok livet eg av eigarmannen:
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 Lat då for kveite klunger gro, og ugras der eg sådde bygg!» Her endar Jobs tale.
then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
