Jobs 34
1 Og Elihu tok til ords og sagde:
Then Elihu continued,
2 «Vismenner, høyr på ordi mine! Kunnige folk, lyd no på meg!
“Listen to my words, you men who say you are wise; pay attention to what I'm saying you who think you know.
3 For ordi prøver ein med øyro, som ein med gomen maten smakar.
The ear distinguishes words just as the palate distinguishes foods.
4 So lat oss no det rette velja og saman finna ut det gode!
Let us discern for ourselves what is right: let us decide among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hev sagt: «Eg skuldfri er; min rett hev Gud ifrå meg teke;
Job said, ‘I am innocent, and God has denied me justice.
6 tråss i min rett, stend eg som ljugar, uskuldig fekk eg ulivssår.»
Even though I'm right, I'm treated like a liar; I am dying from my wounds, even though I've done nothing wrong.’
7 Finst det vel nokon mann som Job? som gløyper hædings ord som vatn,
Has there ever been a man like Job with such a thirst for ridiculing others?
8 som held med illgjerdsmenner lag, hev umgang med gudlause folk?
He keeps company with wicked people; he associates with those who do evil.
9 For han hev sagt: «Kva gagnar det ein mann å vera ven med Gud?»
He's even said, ‘What benefit is there in being God's friend?’
10 Difor, de menn med vit, høyr meg! D’er langt frå Gud å vera gudlaus, frå Allvalds-Gud å gjera urett.
So listen to me, you men of understanding! It's impossible for God to do evil and the Almighty to do wrong.
11 Han løner mannen for hans gjerd, fer med han etter all hans ferd.
He pays people back for what they've done, and treats them as they deserve.
12 Nei, urettferdig er’kje Gud, og Allvald krenkjer ikkje retten.
It's absolutely sure that God doesn't act wickedly; the Almighty would never pervert justice.
13 Kven let vel honom styra jordi? Og kven hev grunna jordheims-kringen?
Who put him in charge of the earth? Who gave him the responsibility for all the world?
14 Um han på seg åleine tenkte og drog sin ande til seg att,
If he were to withdraw his spirit, if he were to take back his breath,
15 då gjekk alt livande til grunns, og menneskja vart atter mold.
all living things would immediately die and human beings would return to dust.
16 Um du er klok, so høyr på dette, og lyd på ljoden av mitt ord!
If you have understanding then hear this; pay attention to what I'm saying.
17 Kann ein som hatar retten, styra? Fordømer du den allrettvise?
Do you really think someone who hated justice could govern? Are you going to condemn Almighty God who always does what is right?
18 Kann ein til kongen segja: «Niding!» Og til dei megtige: «Du brotsmann?»
He's the one who tells kings, ‘You're useless!’ or says to nobles, ‘You're wicked!’
19 Til han som ei gjer skil på fyrstar, og ikkje vyrder rik mot fatig. Av di hans hand hev skapt deim alle?
He doesn't think more of the rich than the poor, for they are all people he himself made.
20 Dei andast brått og midt um natti, eit folk avjagast og kverv burt, stormenn forgjengst i hjelpeløysa.
They die in a moment; at midnight they shudder and pass away; the mighty are gone without effort.
21 Hans augo ser til mannsens ferd, han skodar kvart eit stig han tek;
For he watches what they're doing and sees everywhere they go.
22 det finst’kje skugge eller myrker der illgjerdsmenn kann løyna seg.
There is no darkness so deep where people who do evil can hide themselves from him.
23 Han tarv’kje lenge sjå på mannen fyrr han lyt møta Gud til doms.
God doesn't need to examine anyone in any greater detail that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Han utan forhøyr storfolk krasar og andre set i deira stad.
He brings down the mighty without needing an investigation; he sets up others in their place.
25 Han kjennar heile deira verk og gjev um natti deim til tyning.
Knowing what they've done he overthrows them in a night and destroys them.
26 Han tuktar deim som illgjerdsmenner, ein stad der alle kann det sjå,
He strikes them down for their wickedness in public where they can be seen
27 dei som hev vike burt frå han og ikkje hev hans vegar fylgt -
because they turned away from following him, disregarding all his ways.
28 so han kann høyra armods klaga og jammerskrik frå undertrykte.
They made the poor call out to him, and he heard the cries of the oppressed.
29 Fær han det stilt, kven vil fordøma? Løyner han seg - kven kann då sjå han? - for folkemugen og for mannen,
Yet if God wants to remain silent, who can condemn him? If he chooses to hide his face, who can see him? Whether it concerns a nation or an individual,
30 so ikkje gudlaus mann skal råda og vera snaror yver folket.
a person who rejects God should not rule so they don't mislead people.
31 For segjer ein vel so til Gud: «Ovmodigt hev eg bore meg; eg vil ikkje lenger vera vond.
If you were to say to God, ‘I have sinned, but I won't do bad things any more.
32 Vis du meg det eg ikkje ser! hev eg gjort synd, vil eg snu um?»
Show me what I cannot see. If I have done wrong, I won't do it again,’
33 Skal han då straffa som du tykkjer? D’er du som er den misnøgde; so lyt du velja, ikkje eg; og du fær segja det du veit.
then should God reward you for following your own opinions since you have rejected his? You're the one who has to choose, not me! Tell us what you think.
34 Dei kloke folk vil segja til meg, og kvar ein vismann som meg høyrer:
For people who understand—those who are wise who have heard what I said—will tell me,
35 «Job talar ikkje med forstand hans ord er utan ettertanke.»
‘Job doesn't know what he's talking about. What he says doesn't make any sense.’
36 Gjev Job må allstødt verta prøvd for sine svar på nidings vis!
If only Job were thoroughly condemned because he speaks like evil people do.
37 For han legg brotsverk til si synd og ber seg vyrdlaust millom oss, og talar mange ord mot Gud.»
Now he has added rebellion to his sins; he claps his hands at us, making long speeches full of accusations against God.”
