< Job 22 >

1 Da svarede Elifas, Themaniten, og sagde:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Mon en Mand kan gavne Gud? nej; men han gavner sig selv, naar han handler klogelig.
“Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
3 Mon det er den Almægtige en Fordel, at du er retfærdig? og mon det er ham en Vinding, at du holder dine Veje fuldkomne?
Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
4 Mon han af Frygt for dig skal overbevise dig og gaa i Rette med dig?
Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
5 Er ikke din Ondskab megen og ingen Ende paa dine Misgerninger?
Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
6 Thi du tog Pant af dine Brødre uden Føje og trak Klæderne af de nøgne.
For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
7 Du gav ikke den trætte Vand at drikke og nægtede den hungrige Brød.
You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
8 Men den Mand, hvis Arm var stærk, han havde Landet, og den, hvis Person var anset, boede deri.
while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
9 Du lod Enker fare tomhændede, og de faderløses Arme knustes.
You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
10 Derfor er der Snarer trindt omkring dig, og Rædsel har hastelig forfærdet dig.
Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
11 Eller ser du ikke Mørket og Vandfloden, som bedækker dig?
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 Er ikke Gud i den høje Himmel? og se de øverste Stjerner, hvor de ere høje!
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 Derfor siger du: Hvad ved Gud? skulde han kunne dømme igennem Mørket?
Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
14 Skyerne ere et Skjul for ham, at han ikke ser, og han vandrer omkring Himlenes Kreds.
Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
15 Vil du tage Vare paa Fortidens Vej, som de uretfærdige Folk have vandret paa,
Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
16 de, som reves bort, førend det var deres Tid, hvis Grundvold opløstes i en Strøm;
They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
17 de, som sagde til Gud: Vig fra os; og: Hvad den Almægtige vel skulde kunne gøre for dem.
They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Han havde dog fyldt deres Huse med godt; men de ugudeliges Raad er langt fra mig.
But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
19 De retfærdige se det og glæde sig, og den uskyldige spotter dem:
The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
20 „Sandelig, vor Modstander er tilintetgjort, og Ild har fortæret deres Herlighed‟.
‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
21 Kære, hold dig til ham, og hav saa Fred! deraf skal komme godt til dig.
Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
22 Kære, tag Lærdom af hans Mund, og læg hans Ord i dit Hjerte!
Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
23 Dersom du vender om til den Almægtige, da bliver du bygget op igen, ja, naar du holder Uret langt fra dine Telte.
If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
24 Og kast Guldet i Støvet og Ofirs Guld blandt Bækkens Stene:
and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
25 Saa skal den Almægtige være dit Guld, og han skal være dit kostbare Sølv.
then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
26 Thi da skal du forlystes ved den Almægtige og opløfte dit Ansigt til Gud.
Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 Du skal bede til ham, og han skal høre dig, og du skal betale dine Løfter.
You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
28 Naar du beslutter en Ting, da skal den lykkes for dig, og Lyset skal skinne over dine Veje.
Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
29 Naar man trykker dig ned, da siger du: Opad! og han skal frelse den, som slaar Øjnene ned.
When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
30 Han skal fri endogsaa den, der ikke er uskyldig, og denne skal udfries ved dine Hænders Renhed.
He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”

< Job 22 >