Job 31

1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;

I MADE a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —

If I have walked with vanity, or if 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, that God may know mine integrity.

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 mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine 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; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

9 Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;

10 saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished 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 did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, 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 shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, 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? 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 have 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 myself 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 youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb; )

19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor 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 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, when I saw my help in the gate:

22 saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!

Then let mine arm fall from my 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 destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

24 Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art 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 mine hand had gotten much;

26 saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,

If I beheld the sun when it shined, 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 hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

28 ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that 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, or lifted up myself when evil found 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 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 said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

32 nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

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! —

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, 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 one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

36 Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

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 go near unto him.

38 Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

40 saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.