Job 24
1 Hvorfor har ej den Almægtige opsparet Tider, hvi faar de, som kender ham, ikke hans Dage at se?
Why are not times [of punishment] treasured up by the Almighty, and why do his adorers not see his days [of retribution]?
2 De onde flytter Markskel, ranede Hjorde har de paa Græs.
[The wicked] remove landmarks: they rob flocks, and feed them.
3 faderløses Æsel fører de bort, tager Enkens Okse som Borgen:
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take in pledge the widow's ox.
4 de trænger de fattige af Vejen. Landets arme maa alle skjule sig.
They chase the needy out of the highway: altogether hide themselves the poor of the earth.
5 Som vilde Æsler i Ørkenen gaar de ud til deres Gerning søgende efter Næring; Steppen er Brød for Børnene.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness go they forth to their work, rising betimes after [their] prey: the desert yieldeth food for them and for their young men.
6 De høster paa Marken om Natten, i Rigmandens Vingaard sanker de efter.
In the field they reap their food; and in the vineyard of the wicked they gather the fruit.
7 Om Natten ligger de nøgne, uden Klæder, uden Tæppe i Kulden.
They cause [the poor] to spend the night naked, without clothing and without any covering in the cold.
8 De vædes af Bjergenes Regnskyl, klamrer sig af Mangel paa Ly til Klippen.
Through the sweeping rain of the mountains are they made wet, and for want of a shelter do they embrace the rock.
9 — Man river den faderløse fra Brystet, tager den armes Barn som Borgen. —
The others pluck from the breast the fatherless, and the garment of the poor they take in pledge.
10 Nøgne vandrer de, uden Klæder, sultne bærer de Neg;
They cause him to go naked without clothing, and from the hungry they take away the sheaf:
11 mellem Murene presser de Olie, de træder Persen og tørster.
Within their walls do they make oil, they tread their wine-presses, and suffer thirst.
12 De drives fra By og Hus, og Børnenes Hunger skriger. Men Gud, han ænser ej vrangt.
Out of a populous city is groaning heard, and the soul of the deadly wounded crieth out: yet God regardeth it not as an offence.
13 Andre hører til Lysets Fjender, de kender ikke hans Veje og holder sig ej paa hans Stier:
Yon men are of those that rebel against the light: they know not its ways, nor abide in its paths.
14 Før det lysner, staar Morderen op, han myrder arm og fattig; om Natten sniger Tyven sig om;
With the earliest light riseth the murderer, he slayeth the poor and needy, and in the night he becometh like the thief.
15 Horkarlens Øje lurer paa Skumring, han tænker: »Intet Øje kan se mig!« og skjuler sit Ansigt under en Maske.
And the eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight, saying, No eye will see me; and placeth a covering on his face.
16 I Mørke bryder de ind i Huse, de lukker sig inde om Dagen, thi ingen af dem vil vide af Lys.
They break into houses in the dark, in the daytime they lock themselves in: they know not the light.
17 For dem er Mørket Morgen, thi de er kendt med Mørkets Rædsler.
For to all of these alike is the morning as the shadow of death; for they are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Over Vandfladen jages han hen, hans Arvelod i Landet forbandes, han færdes ikke paa Vejen til Vingaarden.
Swift are such men [to flee] on the face of the water; accursed is their field on the land; none of them turneth himself to the way, of the vineyards.
Drought and heat speedily consume the snow-waters: so doth the grave those who have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Han er glemt paa sin Hjemstavns Torv, hans Storhed kommes ej mer i Hu, Uretten knækkes som Træet.
The mother that bore such a one will forget him; the worm will feed sweetly on him; he will be no more remembered; and like a tree will wickedness be broken.
21 Han var ond mod den golde, der ikke fødte, mod Enken gjorde han ikke vel;
He ill-treateth the barren that heareth not; and to the widow he acteth not well.
22 dem, det gik skævt, rev han bort i sin Vælde. Han staar op og er ikke tryg paa sit Liv,
But he also draweth down the mighty with his power: he riseth up, no one is sure of life.
23 han styrtes uden Haab og Støtte, og paa hans Veje er idel Nød.
To such [God] granteth to be in safety, that he may find support; and His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Hans Storhed er stakket, saa er han ej mer, han bøjes og skrumper ind som Melde og skæres af som Aksenes Top.
They are exalted; in but a little while they are no more; and they are brought down low: like all others are they gathered in, and like the top of the ear of corn are they cut off.
25 Og hvis ikke — hvo gør mig til Løgner, hvo gør mine Ord til intet?
But if it be not so, who will prove me a liar, and render nought my word?
