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 should I look with desire on a virgin?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
For what is the portion from God above, the inheritance from the Almighty on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people, and that disaster is for doers of wickedness.
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Does not God 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 falsehood, if my foot has hurried to deceit,
6 paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
let me be weighed in an even balance so that God will 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 step has turned aside from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, if any spot has stuck 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 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 deceived by a woman, if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,
10 saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
then let my wife grind grain for another, and let others bow down on her.
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For that would be a terrible crime; indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn all my harvest to the root.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
If I ignored the plea for justice from my male or female servant when they argued with me,
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me? When he comes to judge me, how would 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 the one who made me in the womb not make them also? Did not the same one mold us all in the womb?
16 Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I have withheld poor people from their desire, or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
or if I have eaten my morsel alone and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father, and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own mother's womb.
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
if his heart has not blessed me because he has not been warmed with the wool 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 fatherless people because I saw my support in the city gate, then bring charges against me!
22 saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade, and let my arm be broken from its joint.
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For I dreaded destruction from God; because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.
24 Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I have made gold my hope, and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, because my hand had gotten many possessions, then bring charges against me!
26 saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
If I have seen the sun when it shone, or the moon walking in its brightness,
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
and if my heart has been secretly attracted, so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—
28 ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
this also would be a crime to be punished by judges, for I would have denied the God who is above.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him, then bring charges against me!
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
Indeed, I have not even 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 tent have never said, 'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'
32 nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
(even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square, because I have always opened my doors to the traveler), and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins by hiding my guilt inside my tunic
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, because the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside), then bring charges against me!
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, if only I had someone to hear me! See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder; I would put it on like a crown.
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
I would declare to him an accounting for my steps; as a confident prince I would go up to him.
38 Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If my land ever cries out against me, and its furrows weep together,
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it or have caused its owners to lose their lives,
40 saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
then let thorns grow instead of wheat and weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.
