Job 29
1 Og Job vedblev at fremsætte sit Tankesprog:
Job spoke again,
2 Ak, havde jeg det som tilforn, som dengang Gud tog sig af mig,
“I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
3 da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, og jeg ved hans Lys vandt frem i Mørke,
During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
4 som i mine modne Aar, da Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt,
At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
5 da den Almægtige end var hos mig og mine Drenge var om mig,
Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
6 da mine Fødder vaded i Fløde, og Olie strømmede, hvor jeg stod,
[My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
7 da jeg gik ud til Byens Port og rejste mit Sæde paa Torvet.
“Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
8 Naar Ungdommen saa mig, gemte den sig, Oldinge rejste sig op og stod,
and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
9 Høvdinger standsed i Talen og lagde Haand paa Mund,
The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
10 Stormænds Røst forstummed, deres Tunge klæbed til Ganen;
and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
11 Øret hørte og priste mig lykkelig, Øjet saa og tilkendte mig Ære.
When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
12 Thi jeg redded den arme, der skreg om Hjælp, den faderløse, der savned en Hjælper;
because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
13 den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte;
Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
14 jeg klædte mig i Retfærd, og den i mig, i Ret som Kappe og Hovedbind.
I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
15 Jeg var den blindes Øje, jeg var den lammes Fod;
[It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
16 jeg var de fattiges Fader, udreded den mig ukendtes Sag;
I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
17 den lovløses Tænder brød jeg, rev Byttet ud af hans Gab.
My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
18 Saa tænkte jeg da: »Jeg skal dø i min Rede, leve saa længe som Føniksfuglen;
“At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
19 min Rod kan Vand komme til, Duggen har Nattely i mine Grene;
I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
20 min Ære er altid ny, min Bue er altid ung i min Haand!«
People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
21 Mig hørte de paa og bied, var tavse, mens jeg gav Raad;
“When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
22 ingen tog Ordet, naar jeg havde talt, mine Ord faldt kvægende paa dem;
After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
23 de bied paa mig som paa Regn, spærred Munden op efter Vaarregn.
They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
24 Mistrøstige smilte jeg til, mit Aasyns Lys fik de ej til at svinde.
When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
25 Vejen valgte jeg for dem og sad som Høvding, troned som Konge blandt Hærmænd, som den, der gav sørgende Trøst.
I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
