Job 29
1 Og Job vedblev at fremsætte sit Tankesprog:
And Job again took up his measure, and said,
2 Ak, havde jeg det som tilforn, som dengang Gud tog sig af mig,
Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
3 da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, og jeg ved hans Lys vandt frem i Mørke,
When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
4 som i mine modne Aar, da Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt,
As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
5 da den Almægtige end var hos mig og mine Drenge var om mig,
While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
6 da mine Fødder vaded i Fløde, og Olie strømmede, hvor jeg stod,
When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
7 da jeg gik ud til Byens Port og rejste mit Sæde paa Torvet.
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
8 Naar Ungdommen saa mig, gemte den sig, Oldinge rejste sig op og stod,
Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
9 Høvdinger standsed i Talen og lagde Haand paa Mund,
Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
10 Stormænds Røst forstummed, deres Tunge klæbed til Ganen;
The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
11 Øret hørte og priste mig lykkelig, Øjet saa og tilkendte mig Ære.
When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
12 Thi jeg redded den arme, der skreg om Hjælp, den faderløse, der savned en Hjælper;
Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
13 den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte;
The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
14 jeg klædte mig i Retfærd, og den i mig, i Ret som Kappe og Hovedbind.
Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
15 Jeg var den blindes Øje, jeg var den lammes Fod;
Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
16 jeg var de fattiges Fader, udreded den mig ukendtes Sag;
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
17 den lovløses Tænder brød jeg, rev Byttet ud af hans Gab.
And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
18 Saa tænkte jeg da: »Jeg skal dø i min Rede, leve saa længe som Føniksfuglen;
Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
19 min Rod kan Vand komme til, Duggen har Nattely i mine Grene;
My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
20 min Ære er altid ny, min Bue er altid ung i min Haand!«
Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
21 Mig hørte de paa og bied, var tavse, mens jeg gav Raad;
To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
22 ingen tog Ordet, naar jeg havde talt, mine Ord faldt kvægende paa dem;
After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
23 de bied paa mig som paa Regn, spærred Munden op efter Vaarregn.
And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
24 Mistrøstige smilte jeg til, mit Aasyns Lys fik de ej til at svinde.
I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
25 Vejen valgte jeg for dem og sad som Høvding, troned som Konge blandt Hærmænd, som den, der gav sørgende Trøst.
I chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
