Job 29
1 Og Job blev ved at fremføre sit Billedsprog og sagde:
Job spoke again,
2 Gid jeg var som i de forrige Maaneder, som i de Dage, da Gud bevarede mig,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, da jeg gik igennem Mørket ved hans Lys;
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 som det var med mig i min Høsts Dage, der Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt;
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 da den Almægtige endnu var med mig, da mine Drenge vare omkring mig;
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 da mine Trin badede sig i Mælk, og Klippen hos mig udgød Oliebække;
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 da jeg gik ud til Porten op til Staden, da jeg lod berede mit Sæde paa Torvet.
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 De unge saa mig og trak sig tilbage, og de gamle stode op og bleve staaende.
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 De Øverste holdt op at tale, og de lagde Haanden paa deres Mund.
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Fyrsternes Røst forstummede, og deres Tunge hang ved deres Gane.
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Thi det Øre, som hørte, priste mig salig, og det Øje, som saa mig, gav mig Vidnesbyrd.
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 Thi jeg reddede den fattige, som skreg, og den faderløse, som ingen Hjælper havde.
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 Dens Velsignelse, som ellers maatte omkommet, kom over mig, og jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte.
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 Jeg iførte mig Retfærdighed, og den klædte sig i mig; min Dom var mig som en Kappe og et Hovedsmykke.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Jeg var den blindes Øje, og jeg var den lammes Fod.
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 Jeg var de fattiges Fader, og den mig ubekendtes Retssag undersøgte jeg.
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 Og jeg sønderbrød den uretfærdiges Kindtænder, og jeg gjorde, at han maatte slippe Rovet af sine Tænder.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Og jeg sagde: I min Rede vil jeg opgive Aanden og have Dage mangfoldige som Sand.
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 Min Rod skal aabne sig for Vandet, og Duggen skal blive om Natten paa mine Grene.
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 Min Herlighed skal blive ny hos mig, og min Bue skal forynges i min Haand.
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 De hørte paa mig og ventede, og de tav til mit Raad.
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 Havde jeg talt, toge de ikke igen til Orde, og min Tale faldt som Draaber over dem;
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 de ventede paa mig som paa en Regn, og de aabnede Munden vidt som efter den sildige Regn.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Jeg smilte til dem, der vare mistrøstige; og de bragte ikke mit Ansigts Lys til at svinde.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Jeg udvalgte deres Vej og sad øverst, og jeg boede som en Konge iblandt Hærskaren, som den, der trøster de sørgende.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
