Job 39
1 Kender du Tiden, da Stengeden føder, tager du Vare paa Hindenes Veer,
“Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
2 tæller du mon deres Drægtigheds Maaneder, kender du Tiden, de føder?
Can you count the months that they fulfil? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
3 De lægger sig ned og føder og kaster Kuldet,
They bow themselves. They bear their young. They end their labour pains.
4 Ungerne trives, gror til i det frie, løber bort og kommer ej til dem igen.
Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go out, and don’t return again.
5 Hvem slap Vildæslet løs, hvem løste mon Steppeæslets Reb,
“Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 som jeg gav Ørkenen til Hjem, den salte Steppe til Bolig?
whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?
7 Det ler ad Byens Larm og hører ej Driverens Skælden;
He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
8 det ransager Bjerge, der har det sin Græsgang, det leder hvert Græsstraa op.
The range of the mountains is his pasture. He searches after every green thing.
9 Er Vildoksen villig at trælle for dig, vil den staa ved din Krybbe om Natten?
“Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
10 Binder du Reb om dens Hals, pløjer den Furerne efter dig?
Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
11 Stoler du paa dens store Kræfter; overlader du den din Høst?
Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labour?
12 Tror du, den kommer tilbage og samler din Sæd paa Loen?
Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?
13 Mon Strudsens Vinge er lam, eller mangler den Dækfjer og Dun,
“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
14 siden den betror sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Sandet,
For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,
15 tænker ej paa, at en Fod kan knuse dem, Vildtet paa Marken træde dem sønder?
and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the 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 deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labour is in vain, she is without fear,
17 Thi Gud lod den glemme Visdom og gav den ej Del i Indsigt.
because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
18 Naar Skytterne kommer, farer den bort, den ler ad Hest og Rytter.
When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
19 Giver du Hesten Styrke, klæder dens Hals med Manke
“Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
20 og lærer den Græshoppens Spring? Dens stolte Prusten indgyder Rædsel.
Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
21 Den skraber muntert i Dalen, gaar Brynjen væligt i Møde;
He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
22 den ler ad Rædselen, frygter ikke og viger ikke for Sværdet;
He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
23 Koggeret klirrer over den, Spydet og Køllen blinker;
The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.
24 den sluger Vejen med gungrende Vildskab, den tøjler sig ikke, naar Hornet lyder;
He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the shofar.
25 et Stød i Hornet, straks siger den: Huj! Den vejrer Kamp i det fjerne, Kampskrig og Førernes Raab.
As often as the shofar sounds he snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Skyldes det Indsigt hos dig, at Falken svinger sig op og breder sin Vinge mod Sønden?
“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings towards the south?
27 Skyldes det Bud fra dig, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin højtsatte Rede?
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
28 Den bygger og bor paa Klipper, paa Klippens Tinde og Borg;
On the cliff he dwells and makes his home, on the point of the cliff and the stronghold.
29 den spejder derfra efter Æde, viden om skuer dens Øjne.
From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
30 Ungerne svælger i Blod; hvor Valen findes, der er den!
His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is.”
