Job 39
1 Kender du Tiden, da Stengeden føder, tager du Vare paa Hindenes Veer,
“Do you know when mountain goats give birth? Have you watched the doe bear her fawn?
2 tæller du mon deres Drægtigheds Maaneder, kender du Tiden, de føder?
Can you count the months they are pregnant? Do you know the time they give birth?
3 De lægger sig ned og føder og kaster Kuldet,
They crouch down and bring forth their young; they deliver their newborn.
4 Ungerne trives, gror til i det frie, løber bort og kommer ej til dem igen.
Their young ones thrive and grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return.
5 Hvem slap Vildæslet løs, hvem løste mon Steppeæslets Reb,
Who set the wild donkey free? Who released the swift donkey from the harness?
6 som jeg gav Ørkenen til Hjem, den salte Steppe til Bolig?
I made the wilderness his home and the salt flats his dwelling.
7 Det ler ad Byens Larm og hører ej Driverens Skælden;
He scorns the tumult of the city and never hears the shouts of a driver.
8 det ransager Bjerge, der har det sin Græsgang, det leder hvert Græsstraa op.
He roams the mountains for pasture, searching for any green thing.
9 Er Vildoksen villig at trælle for dig, vil den staa ved din Krybbe om Natten?
Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?
10 Binder du Reb om dens Hals, pløjer den Furerne efter dig?
Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness? Will he plow the valleys behind you?
11 Stoler du paa dens store Kræfter; overlader du den din Høst?
Can you rely on his great strength? Will you leave your hard work to him?
12 Tror du, den kommer tilbage og samler din Sæd paa Loen?
Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?
13 Mon Strudsens Vinge er lam, eller mangler den Dækfjer og Dun,
The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.
14 siden den betror sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Sandet,
For she leaves her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand.
15 tænker ej paa, at en Fod kan knuse dem, Vildtet paa Marken træde dem sønder?
She forgets that a foot may crush them, or a wild animal may trample them.
16 Haard ved Ungerne er den, som var de ej dens; spildt er dens Møje, det ængster den ikke.
She treats her young harshly, as if not her own, with no concern that her labor was in vain.
17 Thi Gud lod den glemme Visdom og gav den ej Del i Indsigt.
For God has deprived her of wisdom; He has not endowed her with understanding.
18 Naar Skytterne kommer, farer den bort, den ler ad Hest og Rytter.
Yet when she proudly spreads her wings, she laughs at the horse and its rider.
19 Giver du Hesten Styrke, klæder dens Hals med Manke
Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?
20 og lærer den Græshoppens Spring? Dens stolte Prusten indgyder Rædsel.
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
21 Den skraber muntert i Dalen, gaar Brynjen væligt i Møde;
He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; he charges into battle.
22 den ler ad Rædselen, frygter ikke og viger ikke for Sværdet;
He laughs at fear, frightened of nothing; he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Koggeret klirrer over den, Spydet og Køllen blinker;
A quiver rattles at his side, along with a flashing spear and lance.
24 den sluger Vejen med gungrende Vildskab, den tøjler sig ikke, naar Hornet lyder;
Trembling with excitement, he devours the distance; he cannot stand still when the ram’s horn sounds.
25 et Stød i Hornet, straks siger den: Huj! Den vejrer Kamp i det fjerne, Kampskrig og Førernes Raab.
At the blast of the horn, he snorts with fervor. He catches the scent of battle from afar— the shouts of captains and the cry of war.
26 Skyldes det Indsigt hos dig, at Falken svinger sig op og breder sin Vinge mod Sønden?
Does the hawk take flight by your understanding and spread his wings toward the south?
27 Skyldes det Bud fra dig, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin højtsatte Rede?
Does the eagle soar at your command and make his nest on high?
28 Den bygger og bor paa Klipper, paa Klippens Tinde og Borg;
He dwells on a cliff and lodges there; his stronghold is on a rocky crag.
29 den spejder derfra efter Æde, viden om skuer dens Øjne.
From there he spies out food; his eyes see it from afar.
30 Ungerne svælger i Blod; hvor Valen findes, der er den!
His young ones feast on blood; and where the slain are, there he is.”
