Job 29
1 Og Job vedblev at fremsætte sit Tankesprog:
And Job addeth to lift up his simile, and saith: —
2 Ak, havde jeg det som tilforn, som dengang Gud tog sig af mig,
Who doth make me as [in] months past, As [in] the days of God's preserving me?
3 da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, og jeg ved hans Lys vandt frem i Mørke,
In His causing His lamp to shine on my head, By His light I walk [through] darkness.
4 som i mine modne Aar, da Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt,
As I have been in days of my maturity, And the counsel of God upon my tent.
5 da den Almægtige end var hos mig og mine Drenge var om mig,
When yet the Mighty One [is] with me. Round about me — my young ones,
6 da mine Fødder vaded i Fløde, og Olie strømmede, hvor jeg stod,
When washing my goings with butter, And the firm rock [is] with me rivulets of oil.
7 da jeg gik ud til Byens Port og rejste mit Sæde paa Torvet.
When I go out to the gate by the city, In a broad place I prepare my seat.
8 Naar Ungdommen saa mig, gemte den sig, Oldinge rejste sig op og stod,
Seen me have youths, and they, been hidden, And the aged have risen — they stood up.
9 Høvdinger standsed i Talen og lagde Haand paa Mund,
Princes have kept in words, And a hand they place on their mouth.
10 Stormænds Røst forstummed, deres Tunge klæbed til Ganen;
The voice of leaders hath been hidden, And their tongue to the palate hath cleaved.
11 Øret hørte og priste mig lykkelig, Øjet saa og tilkendte mig Ære.
For the ear heard, and declareth me happy, And the eye hath seen, and testifieth [to] me.
12 Thi jeg redded den arme, der skreg om Hjælp, den faderløse, der savned en Hjælper;
For I deliver the afflicted who is crying, And the fatherless who hath no helper.
13 den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte;
The blessing of the perishing cometh on me, And the heart of the widow I cause to sing.
14 jeg klædte mig i Retfærd, og den i mig, i Ret som Kappe og Hovedbind.
Righteousness I have put on, and it clotheth me, As a robe and a diadem my justice.
15 Jeg var den blindes Øje, jeg var den lammes Fod;
Eyes I have been to the blind, And feet to the lame [am] I.
16 jeg var de fattiges Fader, udreded den mig ukendtes Sag;
A father I [am] to the needy, And the cause I have not known I search out.
17 den lovløses Tænder brød jeg, rev Byttet ud af hans Gab.
And I break the jaw-teeth of the perverse, And from his teeth I cast away prey.
18 Saa tænkte jeg da: »Jeg skal dø i min Rede, leve saa længe som Føniksfuglen;
And I say, 'With my nest I expire, And as the sand I multiply days.'
19 min Rod kan Vand komme til, Duggen har Nattely i mine Grene;
My root is open unto the waters, And dew doth lodge on my branch.
20 min Ære er altid ny, min Bue er altid ung i min Haand!«
My honour [is] fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
21 Mig hørte de paa og bied, var tavse, mens jeg gav Raad;
To me they have hearkened, Yea, they wait, and are silent for my counsel.
22 ingen tog Ordet, naar jeg havde talt, mine Ord faldt kvægende paa dem;
After my word they change not, And on them doth my speech drop,
23 de bied paa mig som paa Regn, spærred Munden op efter Vaarregn.
And they wait as [for] rain for me, And their mouth they have opened wide [As] for the latter rain.
24 Mistrøstige smilte jeg til, mit Aasyns Lys fik de ej til at svinde.
I laugh unto them — they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
25 Vejen valgte jeg for dem og sad som Høvding, troned som Konge blandt Hærmænd, som den, der gav sørgende Trøst.
I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
