Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se på en Jomfru;
A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udådsmændene Modgang?
Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig
[And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
6 på Rettens Vægtskål veje han mig, så Gud kan kende min Uskyld
Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
8 da gid jeg må så og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
9 Blev jeg en Dåre på Grund at en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
10 så dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdåd, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, når de trættede med mig,
If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, når Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, når han så efter?
What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
15 Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion us in the womb?
16 Har jeg afslået ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf
Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe
If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, når han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
21 Har jeg løftet min Bånd mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis på Medhold i Retten,
If I have swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
22 så falde min Skulder fra Nakken, så rykkes min Arm af Led!
Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og når han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
24 Har jeg slået min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Hånd fik sanket så meget,
If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
26 så jeg, hvorledes Sollyset stråled, eller den herligt skridende Måne,
If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig dåre i Løn, så jeg hylded dem med Kys på min Hånd
And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
28 også det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, når han ramtes af Vanheld
If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, så jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —
31 Har min Husfælle ej måttet sige: "Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord"
If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —
32 nej, den fremmede lå ej ude om Natten, jeg åbned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, så jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, så jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed!
Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the 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!
Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det på min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Surely upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—
38 Har min Mark måttet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
40 så gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
