Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
I made a covenant with mine eyes; and how should I fix my regard upon a maid?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
For what would have been [my] portion of God from above, and what the heritage of the Almighty from on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
Is not calamity for the unrighteous? and misfortune for the workers of iniquity?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Doth not he see my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot hath hasted to deceit,
6 paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
(Let me be weighed in an even balance, and God will take knowledge of my blamelessness; )
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my step have turned out of the way, and my heart followed mine eyes, and if any blot cleaveth to my hands;
8 da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
Let me sow, and another eat; and let mine offspring be rooted out.
9 Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart have been enticed unto a woman, so that I laid wait at my neighbour's door,
10 saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
Let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down upon her.
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For this is an infamy; yea, it is an iniquity [to be judged by] the judges:
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
If I have despised the cause of my bondman or of my bondmaid, when they contended with me,
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
What then should I do when God riseth up? and if he visited, what should I answer him?
15 Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the womb?
16 Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail;
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
Or have eaten my morsel alone, so that the fatherless ate not thereof,
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
(For from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb; )
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
If I have seen any perishing for want of clothing, or any needy without covering;
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my lambs;
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 an orphan, because I saw my help in the gate:
22 saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
[Then] let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone!
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his excellency I was powerless.
24 Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
If I beheld the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in brightness,
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
And my heart have been secretly enticed, so that my mouth kissed my hand:
28 ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
This also would be an iniquity for the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, and exulted when evil befell him;
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
(Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by asking 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 tent said not, Who shall find one that hath not been satisfied with his meat? —
32 nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
The stranger did not lodge without; I opened my doors to the pathway.
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
Because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and went not out of the door, ...
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! Behold my signature: let the Almighty answer me! And let mine opponent write an accusation!
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Would I not take it upon my shoulder? I would bind it on to me [as] a crown;
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I come near to him.
38 Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If my land cry out against me, and its furrows weep together;
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have tormented to death the souls of its owners:
40 saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and tares instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.
