¹Da tok Job til orde og sa:

¹Then Job answered,

²Ennu idag gjelder min klage for å være gjenstridighet; min hånd hviler dog tungt på mitt sukk*. / {* d.e. jeg søker dog å dempe min klage.}

²“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

³Bare jeg visste å finne ham og kunde komme frem til hans trone!

³Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!

⁴Jeg skulde legge min sak frem for hans åsyn og fylle min munn med beviser.

⁴I would set my cause in order before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵Jeg skulde få vite de ord han vilde svare mig, og merke mig hvad han vilde si til mig.

⁵I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would tell me.

⁶Skulde han da med full kraft stride mot mig? Mon ikke just han skulde akte på mine ord?

⁶Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No, but he would listen to me.

⁷Da skulde en rettskaffen mann gå i rette med ham, og jeg skulde slippe fra min dommer for all tid.

⁷There the upright might reason with him, so I should be delivered forever from my judge.

⁸Men går jeg mot øst, så er han ikke der; går jeg mot vest, så blir jeg ikke var ham;

⁸“If I go east, he is not there; if west, I can’t find him;

⁹er han virksom i nord, så ser jeg ham ikke; går han mot syd, så øiner jeg ham ikke.

⁹He works to the north, but I can’t see him. He turns south, but I can’t catch a glimpse of him.

¹⁰For han kjenner den vei jeg holder mig til; prøvde han mig, så skulde jeg gå frem av prøven som gullet.

¹⁰But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I shall come forth like gold.

¹¹Min fot holdt sig i hans spor; jeg fulgte hans vei og bøide ikke av.

¹¹My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned aside.

¹²Fra hans lebers bud vek jeg ikke; fremfor min egen lov* aktet jeg på hans munns ord. / {* RMR 7, 23.}

¹²I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

¹³Men han er den eneste, og hvem hindrer ham? Hvad hans sjel lyster, det gjør han.

¹³But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

¹⁴For han fullbyrder det han har fastsatt for mig, og av sådant er det meget hos ham.

¹⁴For he performs that which is appointed for me. Many such things are with him.

¹⁵Derfor reddes jeg for ham; tenker jeg på det*, så bever jeg for ham. / {* JBS 23, 14.}

¹⁵Therefore I am terrified at his presence. When I consider, I am afraid of him.

¹⁶Og Gud har knekket mitt mot, og den Allmektige har forferdet mig,

¹⁶For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.

¹⁷fordi jeg ikke blev rykket bort før mørket kom, og fordi han ikke skjulte ulykkens natt for mig.

¹⁷Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.