Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
“I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
6 paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
8 da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
9 Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
10 saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
15 Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
16 Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
21 Har jeg løftet min Baand mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis paa Medhold i Retten,
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
22 saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
24 Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
26 saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
28 ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
31 Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —
if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
32 nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
35 Ak, var der dog en, der hørte paa mig! Her er mit Bomærke — lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
38 Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
40 saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
