Job 21
1 Saa tog Job til Orde og svarede:
And Job answered and said,
2 Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo haane!
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utaalmodig?
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Haand paa Mund!
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, naar jeg tænker derpaa, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Faar, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: »Gaa fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke paa hos ham?«
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Haand og gudløses Raad ham fjernt?
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be 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 often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 saa de bliver som Straa for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, saa han mærker det,
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 lad ham selv faa sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, naar hans Maaneders Tal er udrundet?
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 En dør jo paa Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og saa helt uden Sorger:
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Se, jeg kender saa vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 naar I siger: »Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?«
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 Den onde skaanes paa Ulykkens Dag og frelses paa Vredens Dag.
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger saa efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar — kun Svig er tilbage!
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
