1 Da svarte Job,

Then Job answered,

2 "Hør nøye på hva jeg sier. La dette være deres trøst.

"Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.

3 Gi meg lov til å tale, og når jeg har talt, kan dere håne videre.

Allow me, and I also will speak; After I have spoken, mock on.

4 Er min klage rettet mot mennesker? Hvorfor skulle jeg ikke være utålmodig?

As for me, is my complaint to man? Why shouldn't I be impatient?

5 Se på meg, og bli forundret. Legg hånden over munnen.

Look at me, and be astonished. Lay your hand on your mouth.

6 Når jeg tenker etter, blir jeg skremt. Frykt griper meg.

When I remember, I am troubled. Horror takes hold of my flesh.

7 Hvorfor lever de onde, blir gamle, ja, vokser seg mektige?

"Why do the wicked live, Become old, yes, and grow mighty in power?

8 Deres barn er trygge hos dem, deres etterkommere i deres nærvær.

Their child is established with them in their sight, Their offspring before their eyes.

9 Deres hus er fri for frykt, Guds ris rammer dem ikke.

Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.

10 Deres okser formerer seg uten å feile. Deres kyr kalver og mister ikke fosteret.

Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don't miscarry.

11 De sender sine små ut som en flokk. Deres barn danser.

They send forth their little ones like a flock. Their children dance.

12 De synger til tamburin og harpe og gleder seg ved fløytens klang.

They sing to the tambourine and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.

13 De tilbringer dagene i velstand. Plutselig går de ned til dødsriket.

They spend their days in prosperity. In an instant they go down to Sheol.

14 De sier til Gud: 'Gå bort fra oss, for vi vil ikke vite om dine veier.

They tell God, 'Depart from us, For we don't want to know about your ways.

15 Hva er Den Allmektige, at vi skulle tjene ham? Hva gagner det oss å be til ham?'

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What profit should we have, if we pray to him?'

16 Men se, deres velstand er ikke i deres hånd: De ondes råd er langt fra meg.

Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.

17 Hvor ofte slokkes de ondes lampe? Kommer deres ulykke over dem? Fordeler Gud sorger i sin vrede?

"How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes on them? That God distributes sorrows in his anger?

18 At de er som halm for vinden, som agner stormen fører bort?

That they are as stubble before the wind, As chaff that the storm carries away?

19 Dere sier, 'Gud lagrer hans skyld for hans barn.' La det komme over han selv, så han kan vite det.

You say, 'God lays up his iniquity for his children.' Let him recompense it to himself, that he may know it.

20 La hans egne øyne se hans undergang. La ham smake på Den Allmektiges vrede.

Let his own eyes see his destruction. Let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

21 Hva bryr han seg om sitt hus etter ham, når hans måneder er avsluttet?

For what does he care for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?

22 Kan noen lære Gud kunnskap, når han dømmer de høye?

"Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judges those who are high?

23 En dør i full styrke, helt i ro og fred.

One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet.

24 Hans melkespann er fulle. Margen i hans ben er fuktig.

His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.

25 En annen dør i bitterhet, og smaker aldri godt.

Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of good.

26 De ligger sammen i støvet, ormer dekker dem.

They lie down alike in the dust, The worm covers them.

27 "Se, jeg kjenner deres tanker, planene dere har mot meg.

"Behold, I know your thoughts, The devices with which you would wrong me.

28 For dere sier, 'Hvor er huset til prinsen? Hvor er teltet der de onde bodde?'

For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'

29 Har dere ikke spurt omreisende menn? Vet dere ikke hva de har å si,

Haven't you asked wayfaring men? Don't you know their evidences,

30 At den onde er spart til ulykkens dag? At de blir ført til vredens dag?

That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?

31 Hvem skal erklære hans vei for hans ansikt? Hvem skal betale ham for det han har gjort?

Who shall declare his way to his face? Who shall repay him what he has done?

32 Likevel skal han bæres til graven, folk skal våke over graven.

Yet shall he be borne to the grave, Men shall keep watch over the tomb.

33 Jordklumpene i dalen blir søte for ham. Alle mennesker skal følge ham, som de utallige før ham.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him. All men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.

34 Så hvordan kan dere trøste meg med meningsløshet, når deres svar kun er falskhet?"

So how can you comfort me with nonsense, Seeing that in your answers there remains only falsehood?"