Job 29
1 Og Job vedblev at fremsætte sit Tankesprog:
And Job again took up his parable, and said:
2 Ak, havde jeg det som tilforn, som dengang Gud tog sig af mig,
Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, og jeg ved hans Lys vandt frem i Mørke,
When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
4 som i mine modne År, da Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt,
As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
5 da den Almægtige end var hos mig og mine Drenge var om mig,
When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
6 da mine Fødder vaded i Fløde, og Olie strømmede, hvor jeg stod,
When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
7 da jeg gik ud til Byens Port og rejste mit Sæde på Torvet.
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
8 Når Ungdommen så mig, gemte deo sig, Oldinge rejste sig op og stod,
The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
9 Høvdinger standsed i Talen og lagde Hånd på Mund,
The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
10 Stormænds Røst forstummed, deres Tunge klæbed til Ganen;
The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 Øret hørte og priste mig lykkelig, Øjet så og tilkendte mig Ære.
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
12 Thi jeg redded den arme, der skreg om Hjælp, den faderløse, der savned en Hjælper;
Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
13 den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte;
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 jeg klædte mig i Retfærd, og den i mig, i Ret som Kappe og Hovedbind.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
15 Jeg var den blindes Øje, jeg var den lammes Fod;
I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 jeg var de fattiges Fader, udreded den mig ukendtes Sag;
I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
17 den lovløses Tænder brød jeg, rev Byttet ud af hans Gab.
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 Så tænkte jeg da: "Jeg skal dø i min Rede, leve så længe som Føniksfuglen;
Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
19 min Rod kan Vand komme til, Duggen har Nattely i mine Grene;
My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
20 min Ære er altid ny, min Bue er altid ung i min Hånd!"
My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
21 Mig hørte de på og bied, var tavse, mens jeg gav Råd;
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
22 ingen tog Ordet, når jeg havde talt, mine Ord faldt kvægende på dem;
After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 de bied på mig som på Regn, spærred Munden op efter Vårregn.
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 Mistrøstige smilte jeg til, mit Åsyns Lys fik de ej til at svinde.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 Vejen valgte jeg for dem og sad som Høvding, troned som Konge blandt Hærmænd, som den, der gav sørgende Trøst.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
