Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
6 paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
Let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall 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 also: and did not one and the same form me in the womb?
16 Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I have denied to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
(For from my infancy mercy grew up with me: and it came out with me from my mother’s womb: )
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
If I have despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no covering:
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
If his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed 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, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
24 Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, 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 shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have kissed my hand with my mouth:
28 ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
Which is a very great iniquity, and a denial against the most high God.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
If I have been glad at the downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone 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!
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
