Job 39
1 Ved du Tiden, naar Stengederne føde? har du taget Vare paa, naar Hinderne ville føde?
“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
2 Tæller du de Maaneder, som de fylde, eller ved du Tiden, naar de føde?
Can you count the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
3 De bøje sig sammen, de føde deres Unger og kaste deres Byrde.
They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labour pains.
4 Deres Unger blive stærke, de blive store paa Marken, de gaa ud og komme ikke tilbage til dem.
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.
5 Hvo har ladet Vildæselet ud i det frie? og hvo løste Skovæselets Baand,
“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 hvilket jeg har givet den slette Mark til dets Hjem og Saltørkenen til dets Bo.
whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?
7 Det ler ad Stadens Tummel; det hører ikke Driverens Buldren.
He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
8 Hvad det opsporer paa Bjergene, er dets Føde, og det søger efter alt det grønne.
The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.
9 Mon Enhjørningen har Lyst til at trælle for dig? mon den vil blive Natten over ved din Krybbe?
“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
10 Kan du tvinge Enhjørningen ved dens Reb til at holde Furen? mon den vil harve Dalene efter dig?
Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
11 Kan du forlade dig paa den, fordi dens Kraft er stor? og kan du overlade den dit Arbejde?
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labour?
12 Kan du tro den til, at den vil føre dig din Sæd hjem og samle den hen til din Tærskeplads?
Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?
13 Strudsenes Vinge svinger sig lystigt; mon det er Storkens Vinge og Fjer?
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
14 Nej, den overlader sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Støvet,
For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,
15 og den glemmer, at en Fod kunde trykke dem i Stykker, og et vildt Dyr paa Marken søndertræde dem.
and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.
16 Den handler haardt med sine Unger, som vare de ikke dens egne; er dens Møje end forgæves, er den uden Frygt.
She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labour is in vain, she is without fear,
17 Thi Gud har ladet den glemme Visdom og har ikke givet den Del i Forstand.
because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 Paa den Tid, naar den svinger sig i Højden, da beler den Hesten og den, der rider paa den.
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Kan du give Hesten Styrke eller klæde dens Hals med flagrende Manke?
“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
20 Kan du gøre, at den springer som Græshoppen? dens prægtige Prusten er forfærdelig.
Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
21 Den skraber i Dalen og fryder sig i Kraft; den farer frem imod den, som bærer Rustning
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
22 Den ler ad Frygt og forskrækkes ikke og vender ikke tilbage for Sværdets Skyld.
He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 Pilekoggeret klirrer over den, ja, det blinkende Jern paa Spyd og Glavind.
The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.
24 Med Bulder og Fnysen sluger den Vejen og bliver ikke staaende stille, naar Trompetens Lyd høres.
He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the shofar.
25 Saa snart Trompeten lyder, siger den: Hui! og lugter Krigen i det fjerne, Fyrsternes Raab og Krigstummelen.
As often as the shofar sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Er det efter din Forstand, at Spurvehøgen flyver, udbreder sine Vinger imod Sønden?
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings towards the south?
27 Eller er det efter din Befaling, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin Rede i det høje?
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
28 Den bor paa Klippen og bliver der om Natten, paa Tinden af en Klippe og Borg.
On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.
29 Derfra spejder den efter Føde; dens Øjne se ud i det fjerne,
From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
30 og dens Unger drikke Blod; og hvor der er ihjelslagne, der er den.
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”
