¹Then Zophar, the Naamathite, answered,

¹Så tog Na'amatiten Zofar til Orde og sagde:

²“Shouldn’t the multitude of words be answered? Should a man full of talk be justified?

²"Skal en Ordgyder ej have Svar, skal en Mundheld vel have Ret?

³Should your boastings make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed?

³Skal Mænd vel tie til din Skvalder, skal du spotte og ikke få Skam?

⁴For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure. I am clean in your eyes.’

⁴Du siger: "Min Færd er lydeløs, og jeg er ren i hans Øjne!"

⁵But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against you,

⁵Men vilde dog Gud kun tale, oplade sine Læber imod dig,

⁶that he would show you the secrets of wisdom! For true wisdom has two sides. Know therefore that God exacts of you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁶kundgøre dig Visdommens Løndom, thi underfuld er den i Væsen; da vilde du vide, at Gud har glemt dig en Del af din Skyld!

⁷“Can you fathom the mystery of God? Or can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

⁷Har du loddet Bunden i Gud og nået den Almægtiges Grænse?

⁸They are high as heaven. What can you do? They are deeper than Sheol Sheol is the place of the dead. . What can you know?

⁸Højere er den end Himlen hvad kan du? Dybere end Dødsriget - hvad ved du?

⁹Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

⁹Den overgår Jorden i Vidde, er mere vidtstrakt end Havet.

¹⁰If he passes by, or confines, or convenes a court, then who can oppose him?

¹⁰Farer han frem og fængsler, stævner til Doms, hvem hindrer ham?

¹¹For he knows false men. He sees iniquity also, even though he doesn’t consider it.

¹¹Han kender jo Løgnens Mænd, Uret ser han og agter derpå,

¹²An empty-headed man becomes wise when a man is born as a wild donkey’s colt.

¹²så tomhjernet Mand får Vid, og Vildæsel fødes til Menneske.

¹³“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.

¹³Hvis du får Skik på dit Hjerte og breder dine Hænder imod ham,

¹⁴If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away. Don’t let unrighteousness dwell in your tents.

¹⁴hvis Uret er fjern fra din Hånd, og Brøde ej bor i dit Telt,

¹⁵Surely then you shall lift up your face without spot; Yes, you shall be steadfast, and shall not fear:

¹⁵ja, da kan du lydefri løfte dit Åsyn og uden at frygte stå fast,

¹⁶for you shall forget your misery. You shall remember it as waters that are passed away.

¹⁶ja, da skal du glemme din Kvide, mindes den kun som Vand, der flød bort;

¹⁷Life shall be clearer than the noonday. Though there is darkness, it shall be as the morning.

¹⁷dit Liv skal overstråle Middagssolen, Mørket vorde som lyse Morgen.

¹⁸You shall be secure, because there is hope. Yes, you shall search, and shall take your rest in safety.

¹⁸Tryg skal du være, fordi du har Håb; du ser dig om og går trygt til Hvile,

¹⁹Also you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. Yes, many shall court your favor.

¹⁹du ligger uden at skræmmes op. Til din Yndest vil mange bejle.

²⁰But the eyes of the wicked shall fail. They shall have no way to flee. Their hope shall be the giving up of the spirit.”

²⁰Men de gudløses Øjne vansmægter; ude er det med deres Tilflugt, deres Håb er blot at udånde Sjælen!