Job 15
1 Saa tog Temaniten Elifaz til Orde og sagde:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
2 Mon Vismand svarer med Mundsvejr og fylder sit Indre med Østenvind
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind?
3 for at hævde sin Ret med gavnløs Tale, med Ord, som intet baader?
Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?
4 Desuden nedbryder du Gudsfrygt og krænker den Stilhed, som tilkommer Gud.
But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him.
5 Din Skyld oplærer din Mund, du vælger de listiges Sprog.
For your iniquity instructs your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty.
6 Din Mund domfælder dig, ikke jeg, dine Læber vidner imod dig!
Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you; your own lips testify against you.
7 Var du den første, der fødtes, kom du til Verden, før Højene var?
Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Mon du lytted til, da Gud holdt Raad, og mon du rev Visdommen til dig?
Do you listen in on the council of God or limit wisdom to yourself?
9 Hvad ved du, som vi ikke ved, hvad forstaar du, som vi ikke kender?
What do you know that we do not? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Ogsaa vi har en gammel iblandt os, en Olding, hvis Dage er fler end din Faders!
Both the gray-haired and the aged are on our side— men much older than your father.
11 Er Guds Trøst dig for lidt, det Ord, han mildelig talede til dig?
Are the consolations of God not enough for you, even words spoken gently to you?
12 Hvi river dit Hjerte dig hen, hvi ruller dit Øje vildt?
Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 Thi du vender din Harme mod Gud og udstøder Ord af din Mund.
as you turn your spirit against God and pour such words from your mouth?
14 Hvor kan et Menneske være rent, en kvindefødt have Ret?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
15 End ikke sine Hellige tror han, og Himlen er ikke ren i hans Øjne,
If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes,
16 hvad da den stygge, den onde, Manden, der drikker Uret som Vand!
how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?
17 Jeg vil sige dig noget, hør mig, jeg fortæller, hvad jeg har set,
Listen to me and I will inform you. I will describe what I have seen,
18 hvad vise Mænd har forkyndt, deres Fædre ikke dulgt,
what was declared by wise men and was not concealed from their fathers,
19 dem alene var Landet givet, ingen fremmed færdedes blandt dem:
to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.
20 Den gudløse ængstes hele sit Liv, de stakkede Aar, en Voldsmand lever;
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
21 Rædselslyde fylder hans Ører, midt under Fred er Hærgeren over ham;
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
22 han undkommer ikke fra Mørket, opsparet er han for Sværdet,
He despairs of his return from darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23 udset til Føde for Gribbe, han ved, at han staar for Fald;
He wanders about as food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24 Mørkets Dag vil skræmme ham. Trængsel og Angst overvælde ham som en Konge, rustet til Strid.
Distress and anguish terrify him, overwhelming him like a king poised to attack.
25 Thi Haanden rakte han ud mod Gud og bød den Almægtige Trods,
For he has stretched out his hand against God and has vaunted himself against the Almighty,
26 stormed haardnakket mod ham med sine tykke, buede Skjolde.
rushing headlong at Him with a thick, studded shield.
27 Thi han dækked sit Ansigt med Fedt og samlede Huld paa sin Lænd.
Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh,
28 tog Bolig i Byer, der øde laa hen, i Huse, man ikke maa bo i, bestemt til at ligge i Grus.
he will dwell in ruined cities, in abandoned houses destined to become rubble.
29 Han bliver ej rig, hans Velstand forgaar, til Jorden bøjer sig ikke hans Aks;
He will no longer be rich; his wealth will not endure. His possessions will not overspread the land.
30 han undkommer ikke fra Mørket. Solglød udtørrer hans Spire, hans Blomst rives bort af Vinden.
He will not escape from the darkness; the flame will wither his shoots, and the breath of God’s mouth will carry him away.
31 Han stole ikke paa Tomhed — han farer vild — thi Tomhed skal være hans Løn!
Let him not deceive himself with trust in emptiness, for emptiness will be his reward.
32 I Utide visner hans Stamme, hans Palmegren skal ikke grønnes;
It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not flourish.
33 han ryster som Ranken sin Drue af og kaster som Olietræet sin Blomst.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree that sheds its blossoms.
34 Thi vanhelliges Samfund er goldt, og Ild fortærer Bestikkelsens Telte;
For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
35 svangre med Kvide, føder de Uret, og deres Moderskød fostrer Svig!
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
