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 darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Omgjord som en Mand dine Lænder, jeg vil spørge, og du skal lære mig!
Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
4 Hvor var du, da jeg grundede Jorden? Sig frem, om du har nogen Indsigt!
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
5 Hvem bestemte dens Maal — du kender det jo — hvem spændte Maalesnor ud derover?
Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
6 Hvorpaa blev dens Støtter sænket, hvem lagde dens Hjørnesten,
What were its foundations fastened on? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 mens Morgenstjernerne jubled til Hobe, og alle Gudssønner raabte af Glæde?
when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Hvem stængte for Havet med Porte, dengang det brusende udgik af Moders Skød,
“Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke out of the womb,
9 dengang jeg gav det Skyen til Klædning og Taagemulm til Svøb,
when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 dengang jeg brød det en Grænse og indsatte Portslaa og Døre
marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
11 og sagde: »Hertil og ikke længer! Her standse dine stolte Vover!«
and said, ‘You may come here, but no further. Your proud waves shall be stopped here’?
12 Har du nogen Sinde kaldt Morgenen frem, ladet Morgenrøden vide sit Sted,
“Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 saa den greb om Jordens Flige og gudløse rystedes bort,
that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
14 saa den dannedes til som Ler under Segl, fik Farve, som var den en Klædning?
It is changed as clay under the seal, and presented as a garment.
15 De gudløses Lys toges fra dem, den løftede Arm blev knust.
From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
16 Har du mon været ved Havets Kilder, har du mon vandret paa Dybets Bund?
“Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Mon Dødens Porte har vist sig for dig, skued du Mulmets Porte?
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
18 Saa du ud over Jordens Vidder? Sig frem, om du ved, hvor stor den er!
Have you comprehended the earth in its width? Declare, if you know it all.
19 Hvor er Vejen til Lysets Bolig, og hvor har Mørket mon hjemme,
“What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
20 saa du kunde hente det til dets Rige og bringe det hen paa Vej til dets Bolig?
that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
21 Du ved det, du blev jo født dengang, dine Dages Tal er jo stort!
Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
22 Har du været, hvor Sneen gemmes, og skuet, hvor Hagelen vogtes,
Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 den, jeg gemmer til Trængselens Tid, til Kampens og Krigens Dag?
which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
24 Hvor er Vejen did, hvor Lyset deler sig, hvor Østenvinden spreder sig ud over Jorden?
By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
25 Hvem aabnede Regnen en Rende og Tordenens Lyn en Vej
Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm,
26 for at væde folketomt Land, Ørkenen, hvor ingen bor,
to cause it to rain on a land where there is no man, on the wilderness, in which there is no man,
27 for at kvæge Øde og Ødemark og fremkalde Urter i Ørkenen?
to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to grow?
28 Har Regnen mon en Fader, hvem avlede Duggens Draaber?
Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
29 Af hvilket Skød kom Isen vel frem, hvem fødte mon Himlens Rim?
Whose womb did the ice come out of? Who has given birth to the grey frost of the sky?
30 Vandet størkner som Sten, Dybets Flade trækker sig sammen.
The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 Knytter du Syvstjernens Baand, kan du løse Orions Lænker?
“Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
32 Lader du Aftenstjernen gaa op i Tide, leder du Bjørnen med Unger?
Can you lead the constellations out in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
33 Kender du Himmelens Love, fastsætter du dens Magt over Jorden?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
34 Kan du løfte Røsten til Sky, saa Vandskyl adlyder dig?
“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover you?
35 Sender du Lynene ud, saa de gaar, og svarer de dig: »Her er vi!«
Can you send out lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Hvem lagde Visdom i sorte Skyer, hvem gav Luftsynet Kløgt?
Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
37 Hvem er saa viis, at han tæller Skyerne, hvem hælder Himmelens Vandsække om,
Who can count the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the containers of the sky,
38 naar Jorden ligger i Ælte, og Leret klumper sig sammen?
when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
39 Jager du Rov til Løvinden, stiller du Ungløvers Hunger,
“Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 naar de dukker sig i deres Huler; ligger paa Lur i Krat?
when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
41 Hvem skaffer Ravnen Æde, naar Ungerne skriger til Gud og flakker om uden Føde?
Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
