Esajas 42
1 Se min Tjener, ved hvem jeg min udvalgte, hvem jeg har kær! På ham har jeg lagt min Ånd, han skal udbrede Ret til Folkene.
Behold my servant, whom I will uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon him, that he may bring forth justice to the nations.
2 Han råber og skriger ikke, løfter ej Røsten på Gaden,
He shall not cry, nor call out aloud, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
3 bryder ej knækket Rør og slukker ej rygende Tande. Han udbreder Ret med Troskab,
A cracked reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: unto truth shall he bring forth justice.
4 vansmægter, udmattes ikke, før han får sat Ret på Jorden; og fjerne Strande bier på hans Lov.
He shall not become fatigued and not be faint, till he have established justice on earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.
5 Så siger Gud HERREN, som skabte og udspændte Himlen, udbredte Jorden med dens Grøde, gav Folkene på den Åndedræt og dem, som vandrer der, Ånde.
Thus hath said God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and the things which come out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to those that walk thereon:
6 Jeg, HERREN, har kaldet dig i Retfærd og grebet dig fast om Hånd; jeg vogter dig, og jeg gør dig til Folkepagt, til Hedningelys
I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will lay hold on thy hand, and will keep thee, and appoint thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations;
7 for at åbne de blinde Øjne og føre de fangne fra Fængslet, fra Fangehullet Mørkets Gæster.
To open blind eyes, to bring out from the dungeon the prisoner, and out of the prison-house those that dwell in darkness.
8 Jeg er HERREN, så lyder mit Navn. Jeg giver ej andre min Ære, ej Gudebilleder min Pris.
I am the Everlasting One, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to any other, nor my praise to graven images.
9 Hvad jeg forudsagde, se, det er sket, jeg forkynder nu nye Ting, kundgør dem, før de spirer frem.
The former things, behold, are come to pass; and new things do I announce; before they spring forth I let you hear of them.
10 Syng HERREN en ny Sang, hans Pris over Jorden vide; Havet og dets Fylde skal juble, fjerne Strande og de, som bebor dem;
Sing unto the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that filleth it; the isles, and their inhabitants.
11 Ørkenen og dens Byer stemmer i, de Lejre, hvor Kedar bor; Klippeboerne jubler, råber fra Bjergenes Tinder;
Let resound with song the wilderness and its cities, the villages which Kedar inhabiteth: let the inhabitants of the rocks sing, let them shout forth from the top of the mountains.
12 HERREN giver de Ære, forkynder hans Pris på fjerne Strande.
Let them give glory unto the Lord, and in the islands declare his praise.
13 HERREN drager ud som en Helt, han vækker som en Stridsmand sin Kamplyst, han udstøder Krigsskrig, han brøler, æsker sine Fjender til Strid.
The Lord—as a mighty one will he go forth, like a man of war will he arouse his vengeance: he will shout, yea, raise the war-cry; against his enemies will he show his strength.
14 En Evighed lang har jeg tiet, været tavs og lagt Bånd på mig selv; nu skriger jeg som Kvinde i Barnsnød, stønner og snapper efter Luft.
I have a long time held my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: [now] like a travailing woman will I cry; I will destroy and devour [all] together.
15 Jeg gør Bjerge og Høje tørre, afsvider alt deres Grønt, gør Strømme til udtørret Land, og Sumpe lægger jeg tørre.
I will lay waste mountains and hills, and all their herbs will I dry up; and I will change the rivers into islands, and pools will I dry up.
16 Jeg fører blinde ad ukendt Vej, leder dem ad ukendte Stier, gør Mørket foran dem til Lys og Bakkelandet til Slette. Det er de Ting, jeg gør, og dem går jeg ikke fra.
And I will cause the blind to walk on a way that they have not known; on paths that they have not known will I lead them: I will change darkness before them into light, and crooked places into plains. These are the things which I will do, and not leave them [unfulfilled].
17 Vige og dybt beskæmmes skal de, som stoler på Billeder, som siger til støbte Billeder: "I er vore Guder!"
They shall be turned back, they shall be ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to molten idols, Ye are our gods.
18 I, som er døve, hør, løft Blikket, I blinde, og se!
Ye deaf, hear; and ye blind, look up, that ye may see.
19 Hvo er blind, om ikke min Tjener, og døv som Budet, jeg sendte? Hvo er blind som min håndgangne Mand, blind som HERRENs Tjener?
Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger whom I send? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 Meget så han, men ænsed det ikke, trods åbne Ører hørte han ej.
Thou seest many things, but observest not; the ears are open, but he heareth not.
21 For sin Retfærds Skyld vilde HERREN løfte Loven til Højhed og Ære.
The Lord willed [to do this] for the sake of his righteousness; [therefore] he magnifieth the law, and maketh it honorable.
22 Men Folket er plyndret og hærget; de er alle bundet i Huler, skjult i Fangers Huse, til Ran blev de, ingen redder, til Plyndring, ingen siger: "Slip dem!"
But it is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them ensnared in holes, and in prison-houses are they hidden: they are become for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.
23 Hvem af jer vil lytte til dette, mærke sig og fremtidig høre det:
Who among you will give ear to this? will hearken and listen, for the time to come?
24 Hvo hengav Jakob til Plyndring, gav Israel hen til Ransmænd? Mon ikke HERREN: mod hvem vi synded, hvis Veje de ej vilde vandre, hvis Lov de ikke hørte?
Who gave up Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to plunderers? was it not the Lord? he it is against whom we have sinned; for they would not walk in his ways, neither did they hearken unto his law.
25 Han udgød over det Harme, sin Vrede og Krigens Vælde; den luede om det, det ænsed det ej, den sved det, det tog sig det ikke til Hjerte.
Therefore hath he poured out over him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it blazed all round about him, yet he regarded it not; and it burnt on him, yet he laid it not to heart.
