Job 22
1 Da svarede Elifas, Themaniten, og sagde:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
2 Mon en Mand kan gavne Gud? nej; men han gavner sig selv, naar han handler klogelig.
“How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
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?
Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
4 Mon han af Frygt for dig skal overbevise dig og gaa i Rette med dig?
Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
5 Er ikke din Ondskab megen og ingen Ende paa dine Misgerninger?
No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
6 Thi du tog Pant af dine Brødre uden Føje og trak Klæderne af de nøgne.
For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
7 Du gav ikke den trætte Vand at drikke og nægtede den hungrige Brød.
You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
8 Men den Mand, hvis Arm var stærk, han havde Landet, og den, hvis Person var anset, boede deri.
Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
9 Du lod Enker fare tomhændede, og de faderløses Arme knustes.
You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
10 Derfor er der Snarer trindt omkring dig, og Rædsel har hastelig forfærdet dig.
That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
11 Eller ser du ikke Mørket og Vandfloden, som bedækker dig?
That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
12 Er ikke Gud i den høje Himmel? og se de øverste Stjerner, hvor de ere høje!
Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
13 Derfor siger du: Hvad ved Gud? skulde han kunne dømme igennem Mørket?
But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
14 Skyerne ere et Skjul for ham, at han ikke ser, og han vandrer omkring Himlenes Kreds.
Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
15 Vil du tage Vare paa Fortidens Vej, som de uretfærdige Folk have vandret paa,
Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
16 de, som reves bort, førend det var deres Tid, hvis Grundvold opløstes i en Strøm;
They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
17 de, som sagde til Gud: Vig fra os; og: Hvad den Almægtige vel skulde kunne gøre for dem.
They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
18 Han havde dog fyldt deres Huse med godt; men de ugudeliges Raad er langt fra mig.
And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
19 De retfærdige se det og glæde sig, og den uskyldige spotter dem:
Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
20 „Sandelig, vor Modstander er tilintetgjort, og Ild har fortæret deres Herlighed‟.
saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
21 Kære, hold dig til ham, og hav saa Fred! deraf skal komme godt til dig.
Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
22 Kære, tag Lærdom af hans Mund, og læg hans Ord i dit Hjerte!
Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
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 God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
24 Og kast Guldet i Støvet og Ofirs Guld blandt Bækkens Stene:
and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
25 Saa skal den Almægtige være dit Guld, og han skal være dit kostbare Sølv.
then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
26 Thi da skal du forlystes ved den Almægtige og opløfte dit Ansigt til Gud.
Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
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 keep your promises to him.
28 Naar du beslutter en Ting, da skal den lykkes for dig, og Lyset skal skinne over dine Veje.
Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
29 Naar man trykker dig ned, da siger du: Opad! og han skal frelse den, som slaar Øjnene ned.
When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
30 Han skal fri endogsaa den, der ikke er uskyldig, og denne skal udfries ved dine Hænders Renhed.
God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
