Job 31
1 Jeg gjorde en Pagt med mine Øjne, og hvad skulde jeg agte paa en Jomfru?
I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
2 Og hvad for en Lod vilde Gud have givet ovenfra og hvad for en Arv den Almægtige fra det høje?
For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
3 Mon ikke Ulykke er beredt for den uretfærdige og Undergang for dem, som gøre Uret?
Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
4 Mon han ikke ser mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
5 Dersom jeg har vandret med Falskhed, og min Fod har hastet til Svig,
If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
6 — han veje mig paa Retfærdigheds Vægtskaaler, og Gud kende min Uskyldighed —
(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )
7 dersom min Gang har bøjet af fra Vejen, og mit Hjerte er gaaet efter mine Øjne, og en Plet har klæbet ved mine Hænder:
If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
8 Da gid jeg maa saa, men en anden æde, og mit Afkom maa oprykkes med Rod.
Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
9 Dersom mit Hjerte er forlokket til en Kvinde, og jeg har luret ved min Næstes Dør:
If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
10 Da gid min Hustru maa male for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende.
Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
11 Thi det var en Skændselsgerning, og det var en Misgerning, som hørte hen for Dommerne;
For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
12 thi det var en Ild, som fortærede indtil Afgrunden, og som skulde have oprykket al min Afgrøde med Rode.
It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
13 Dersom jeg havde foragtet min Tjeners eller min Tjenestepiges Ret, naar de trættede med mig;
If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
14 — og hvad vilde jeg gøre, naar Gud vilde opstaa? og naar han vilde hjemsøge, hvad skulde jeg svare ham?
What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
15 har ikke han, som skabte mig i Moders Liv, skabt ham? og har ikke en og den samme beredt os i Moderskød? —
Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
16 dersom jeg har nægtet de ringe deres Begæring og ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
17 og jeg har ædt min Mundbid for mig alene, saa at den faderløse ikke aad deraf;
If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
18 — tværtimod, han er opvokset hos mig som hos en Fader fra min Ungdom af, og hende ledede jeg, fra min Moders Liv af —
(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )
19 dersom jeg har set en forkommen, uden Klæder, og at den fattige intet Dække havde;
If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
20 dersom hans Lænder ikke have velsignet mig, medens han varmede sig ved Ulden af mine Faar;
If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
21 dersom jeg har løftet min Haand imod den faderløse, fordi jeg saa Hjælp for mig i Porten:
If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
22 Da gid min Skulder maa falde fra Skulderbladet, og min Arm brydes fra Armpiben!
May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
23 Thi en Rædsel vilde være kommen over mig, en Ulykke fra Gud, og imod hans Højhed formaaede jeg intet.
For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
24 Dersom jeg har sat Guld til mit Haab eller sagt til det kostelige Guld: Du er min Tillid;
If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
25 dersom jeg har glædet mig, at mit Gods var meget, og at min Haand havde forhvervet mangfoldigt;
If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
26 dersom jeg har set til Sollyset, naar det skinnede, eller til Maanen, naar den gaar herlig,
If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,
27 og mit Hjerte har ladet sig forlokke i Løndom, saa at min Mund kyssede min Haand:
A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;
28 — Ogsaa dette havde været en Misgerning, som hørte hen under Dommerne; thi jeg havde hyklet for Gud i det høje —!
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
29 dersom jeg har glædet mig over min Fjendes Undergang og jublet, naar Ulykken ramte ham;
If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;
30 — men jeg tilstedede ikke min Gane at synde, saa at jeg under Forbandelse begærede hans Sjæl —
(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )
31 dersom ikke Mændene i mit Telt have sagt: Hvor finder man nogen, som ikke er bleven mæt af hans Kød?
If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?
32 — den fremmede maatte ikke ligge udenfor om Natten, jeg lod mine Døre op for vejfarende —
The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;
33 dersom jeg har skjult mine Overtrædelser som Adam og dulgt min Misgerning i min Barm,
If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,
34 fordi jeg frygtede den store Hob, og Slægters Foragt kunde have forfærdet mig, saa at jeg tav og ikke gik ud af en Dør —
For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;
35 Havde jeg dog den, som vilde høre paa mig! se her min Underskrift — den Almægtige svare mig — og her den Klage, min Modpart har opsat;
If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!
36 sandelig, jeg skulde tage den paa min Skulder, jeg skulde binde den omkring mig som et Hovedsmykke!
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
37 Jeg vil tilkendegive ham ethvert af mine Skridt, som en Fyrste vil jeg nærme mig ham.
I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
38 Dersom min Ager raaber imod mig, og alle dens Furer græde;
If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
39 dersom jeg har fortæret dens Grøde uden at have betalt den og udblæst Sjælen fra dens Ejermand:
If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
40 Gid da vokse Tjørn i Stedet for Hvede, og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg; — Jobs Ord have Ende.
Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
