Job 38
1 Saa svarede HERREN Job ud fra Stormvejret og sagde:
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind,
2 Hvem fordunkler mit Raad med Ord, som er uden Mening?
“Who is this who questions my wisdom by talking so ignorantly?
3 Omgjord som en Mand dine Lænder, jeg vil spørge, og du skal lære mig!
Prepare yourself, be strong, for I am going to question you, and you must answer me.
4 Hvor var du, da jeg grundede Jorden? Sig frem, om du har nogen Indsigt!
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have such knowledge!
5 Hvem bestemte dens Maal — du kender det jo — hvem spændte Maalesnor ud derover?
Who decided its dimensions? Don't you know? Who stretched out a measuring line?
6 Hvorpaa blev dens Støtter sænket, hvem lagde dens Hjørnesten,
What do its foundations rest upon? Who laid its cornerstone,
7 mens Morgenstjernerne jubled til Hobe, og alle Gudssønner raabte af Glæde?
when the stars of the morning sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.
8 Hvem stængte for Havet med Porte, dengang det brusende udgik af Moders Skød,
Who laid down the boundaries of the sea when it was born?
9 dengang jeg gav det Skyen til Klædning og Taagemulm til Svøb,
Who clothed it with clouds, and wrapped it in a blanket of deep darkness?
10 dengang jeg brød det en Grænse og indsatte Portslaa og Døre
I set its limits, marking its borders.
11 og sagde: »Hertil og ikke længer! Her standse dine stolte Vover!«
I said, ‘You may come here, but no farther. Here is where your proud waves stop.’
12 Har du nogen Sinde kaldt Morgenen frem, ladet Morgenrøden vide sit Sted,
During your lifetime, have you ever ordered the morning to begin?
13 saa den greb om Jordens Flige og gudløse rystedes bort,
Have you ever told the dawn where to appear that it might take hold of the corners of the earth and shake the wicked out?
14 saa den dannedes til som Ler under Segl, fik Farve, som var den en Klædning?
The earth is changed like clay under a seal; its features stand out like a crumpled garment.
15 De gudløses Lys toges fra dem, den løftede Arm blev knust.
The ‘light’ of the wicked is taken away from them; their acts of violence are stopped.
16 Har du mon været ved Havets Kilder, har du mon vandret paa Dybets Bund?
Have you entered the sources of the sea? Have you explored their hidden depths?
17 Mon Dødens Porte har vist sig for dig, skued du Mulmets Porte?
Have you been shown where the gates of death are? Have you seen the gates of utter darkness?
18 Saa du ud over Jordens Vidder? Sig frem, om du ved, hvor stor den er!
Do you know how far the earth extends? Tell me if you know all this!
19 Hvor er Vejen til Lysets Bolig, og hvor har Mørket mon hjemme,
In which direction does light live? Where does darkness dwell?
20 saa du kunde hente det til dets Rige og bringe det hen paa Vej til dets Bolig?
Can you take them home? Do you know the way to where they live?
21 Du ved det, du blev jo født dengang, dine Dages Tal er jo stort!
Of course you know, because you were already born then! You've lived so long!
22 Har du været, hvor Sneen gemmes, og skuet, hvor Hagelen vogtes,
Have you been to where the snow is kept? Have you seen where the hail is held?
23 den, jeg gemmer til Trængselens Tid, til Kampens og Krigens Dag?
I have stored them up for the time of trouble, for the day of war and battle.
24 Hvor er Vejen did, hvor Lyset deler sig, hvor Østenvinden spreder sig ud over Jorden?
Do you know the way to where light comes from, or to where the east wind blows over the earth?
25 Hvem aabnede Regnen en Rende og Tordenens Lyn en Vej
Who cuts a channel for the rain to flow? Who creates a path for the thunderbolt?
26 for at væde folketomt Land, Ørkenen, hvor ingen bor,
Who brings rain to an uninhabited land, to a desert where nobody lives,
27 for at kvæge Øde og Ødemark og fremkalde Urter i Ørkenen?
to water a parched wasteland to make the green grass grow?
28 Har Regnen mon en Fader, hvem avlede Duggens Draaber?
Does the rain have a father? Who was the father of the dewdrops?
29 Af hvilket Skød kom Isen vel frem, hvem fødte mon Himlens Rim?
Who was the mother of ice? Does the frost of the air have a mother?
30 Vandet størkner som Sten, Dybets Flade trækker sig sammen.
Water turns into rock-hard ice; its surface freezes solid.
31 Knytter du Syvstjernens Baand, kan du løse Orions Lænker?
Can you tie together the stars of the Pleiades? Can you loosen the belt of the Orion constellation?
32 Lader du Aftenstjernen gaa op i Tide, leder du Bjørnen med Unger?
Can you guide the stars of Mazzaroth at the right time? Can you direct the Great Bear constellation and its other stars?
33 Kender du Himmelens Love, fastsætter du dens Magt over Jorden?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you apply them to the earth?
34 Kan du løfte Røsten til Sky, saa Vandskyl adlyder dig?
Can you shout to the clouds and command them to pour rain down on you?
35 Sender du Lynene ud, saa de gaar, og svarer de dig: »Her er vi!«
Can you send out bolts of lightning and direct them, so that they can answer you saying, ‘Here we are’?
36 Hvem lagde Visdom i sorte Skyer, hvem gav Luftsynet Kløgt?
Who has placed wisdom inside people? Who has given understanding to the mind?
37 Hvem er saa viis, at han tæller Skyerne, hvem hælder Himmelens Vandsække om,
Who is clever enough to count the clouds? Who can turn heaven's water jars on their sides
38 naar Jorden ligger i Ælte, og Leret klumper sig sammen?
when the dust has baked into a solid mass?
39 Jager du Rov til Løvinden, stiller du Ungløvers Hunger,
Can you hunt prey for the lion? Can you feed the lion cubs
40 naar de dukker sig i deres Huler; ligger paa Lur i Krat?
as they crouch down in their dens and lie in wait in the bushes?
41 Hvem skaffer Ravnen Æde, naar Ungerne skriger til Gud og flakker om uden Føde?
Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God, weak from starvation?
