Job 21
1 Saa tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo haane!
Suffer me, that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utaalmodig?
As for me, is my complaint to man? Or why should I not be impatient?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Haand paa Mund!
Turn unto me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, naar jeg tænker derpaa, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
Even when I remember I am affrighted, and horror hath taketh hold on my flesh.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses are safe, without 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and peacefully they go down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: »Gaa fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
Yet they said 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 profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?' —
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Haand og gudløses Raad ham fjernt?
Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked 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 oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? that their calamity cometh upon them? that He distributeth pains in His anger?
18 saa de bliver som Straa for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
That they are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm stealeth away?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, saa han mærker det,
'God layeth up his iniquity for his children!' — let Him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it.
20 lad ham selv faa sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
Let his own eyes see his destruction, and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, naar hans Maaneders Tal er udrundet?
For what pleasure hath he in his house after him? seeing the number of his months is determined.
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing it is He 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 pails are full of milk, 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 never tasted of good.
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
27 Se, jeg kender saa vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which 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 prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?'
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have ye not asked them that go by the way; and will ye misdeem their tokens,
30 Den onde skaanes paa Ulykkens Dag og frelses paa Vredens Dag.
That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity, that they are led forth to the day of wrath?
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
But 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;
For he is borne to the grave, and watch is kept over his 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 all men draw 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? And as for your answers, there remaineth only faithlessness?
