| Tolv arvar Han, da Han stod frem i templet.
| He inherited twelve when He appeared in the temple.
|
| Tolv ar var Jochanaan, da han dro bort
| Jochanaan was twelve years old when he departed
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| til orkenen og kallet som stod i templet
| to the hurricane and the call that stood in the temple
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| i blikket som var innadvendt og sort.
| in the gaze that was introverted and black.
|
| Tolv ar var du, Salome, da du danset,
| You were twelve years old, Salome, when you danced,
|
| og da ditt navn ble slynget om profeten,
| and when your name was uttered about the Prophet,
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| i oyeblikket da musikken stanset -,
| at the moment when the music stopped -,
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| og mannen tok deg med til evigheten
| and the man took you forever
|
| (og dronningen bad gjestene a klappe -),
| (and the queen asked the guests to pat -),
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| ja, tok deg med som om du var en avne
| yes, take you as if you were a chaplain
|
| som hadde festnet i hans doperkappe,
| who had fastened himself in his baptismal garment,
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| et stro som hadde festnet i hans har!
| a straw that had stuck in his hair!
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| Slik ble du nesten ett med dopernavnet,
| This is how you became almost one with the dope name,
|
| mens andre kongedotres navn forgar. | while the names of other royal daughters perish. |