Job 21
1 Saa tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Then Job made answer and said,
2 Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo haane!
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utaalmodig?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Haand paa Mund!
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, naar jeg tænker derpaa, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Faar, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: »Gaa fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke paa hos ham?«
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Haand og gudløses Raad ham fjernt?
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 Naar gaar de gudløses Lampe ud og naar kommer Ulykken over dem? Naar deler han Loddet ud i sin Vrede,
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 saa de bliver som Straa for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, saa han mærker det,
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 lad ham selv faa sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, naar hans Maaneders Tal er udrundet?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 En dør jo paa Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og saa helt uden Sorger:
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Se, jeg kender saa vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 naar I siger: »Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?«
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 Den onde skaanes paa Ulykkens Dag og frelses paa Vredens Dag.
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger saa efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar — kun Svig er tilbage!
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
