Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se på en Jomfru;
I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udådsmændene Modgang?
Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig
If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;
6 på Rettens Vægtskål veje han mig, så Gud kan kende min Uskyld
(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;
8 da gid jeg må så og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.
9 Blev jeg en Dåre på Grund at en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;
10 så dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdåd, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, når de trættede med mig,
If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, når Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, når han så efter?
What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?
15 Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?
16 Har jeg afslået ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf
If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe
If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, når han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;
21 Har jeg løftet min Bånd mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis på Medhold i Retten,
If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;
22 så falde min Skulder fra Nakken, så rykkes min Arm af Led!
May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og når han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.
24 Har jeg slået min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Hånd fik sanket så meget,
If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;
26 så jeg, hvorledes Sollyset stråled, eller den herligt skridende Måne,
If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig dåre i Løn, så jeg hylded dem med Kys på min Hånd
A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;
28 også det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, når han ramtes af Vanheld
If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, så jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )
31 Har min Husfælle ej måttet sige: "Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord"
If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?
32 nej, den fremmede lå ej ude om Natten, jeg åbned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, så jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, så jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed!
For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;
35 Ak, var der dog en, der hørte på mig! Her er mit Bomærke - lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!
If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det på min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.
38 Har min Mark måttet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;
40 så gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.
