Job 21
1 Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Then Job answered:
2 "Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo håne!
Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking.
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utålmodig?
Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Hånd på Mund!
Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, når jeg tænker derpå, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Får, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute.
They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: "Gå fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways.
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke på hos ham?"
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Hånd og gudløses Råd ham fjernt?
Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
17 Når går de gudløses Lampe ud og når kommer Ulykken over dem? Når deler han Loddet ud i sin Vrede,
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? Does disaster come upon them? Does God, in His anger, apportion destruction?
18 så de bliver som Strå for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
Are they like straw before the wind, like chaff swept away by a storm?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, så han mærker det,
It is said that God lays up one’s punishment for his children. Let God repay the man himself, so he will know it.
20 lad ham selv få sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
Let his eyes see his own destruction; let him drink for himself the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, når hans Måneders Tal er udrundet?
For what does he care about his household after him, when the number of his months has run out?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since He judges those on high?
23 En dør jo på Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og så helt uden Sorger:
One man dies full of vigor, completely secure and at ease.
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.
27 Se, jeg kender så vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.
28 når I siger: "Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?"
For you say, ‘Where now is the nobleman’s house, and where are the tents in which the wicked dwell?’
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have you never asked those who travel the roads? Do you not accept their reports?
30 Den onde skånes på Ulykkens Dag og frelses på Vredens Dag.
Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
Who denounces his behavior to his face? Who repays him for what he has done?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
He is carried to the grave, and watch is kept over his tomb.
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger så efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
The clods of the valley are sweet to him; everyone follows behind him, and those before him are without number.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar - kun Svig er tilbage!
So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”
