Job 21
1 Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 "Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo håne!
Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utålmodig?
As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Hånd på Mund!
Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, når jeg tænker derpå, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Får, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: "Gå fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke på hos ham?"
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Hånd og gudløses Råd ham fjernt?
Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
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 quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
18 så de bliver som Strå for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, så han mærker det,
Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
20 lad ham selv få sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, når hans Måneders Tal er udrundet?
For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
23 En dør jo på Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og så helt uden Sorger:
That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
[And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
27 Se, jeg kender så vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
28 når I siger: "Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?"
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
30 Den onde skånes på Ulykkens Dag og frelses på Vredens Dag.
That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
[But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger så efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar - kun Svig er tilbage!
How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
