Job 39
1 Kender du Tiden, da Stengeden føder, tager du Vare på Hindenes Veer,
Knowest thou the time when the chamois of the rock bring forth? or markest thou when the hinds do calve?
2 tæller du mon deres Drægtigheds Måneder, kender du Tiden, de føder?
Numberest thou the months of gestation which they complete and knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
3 De lægger sig ned og føder og kaster Kuldet,
They bend themselves: they drop their young ones; throw off their pains.
4 Ungerne trives, gror til i det frie, løber bort og kommer ej til dem igen.
Their little ones become strong; they grow up in the open field; they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Hvem slap Vildæslet løs, hvem løste mon Steppeæslets Reb,
Who sent out the wild ass free? or who loosened the bonds of the forest-ass?
6 som jeg gav Ørkenen til Hjem, den salte Steppe til Bolig?
To whom I assigned the wilderness as his house, and the salty land as his dwellings.
7 Det ler ad Byens Larm og hører ej Driverens Skælden;
He laugheth at the noise of a town, and the shoutings of the driver he heareth not.
8 det ransager Bjerge, der har det sin Græsgang, det leder hvert Græsstrå op.
What he espieth on the mountains is his pasture, and after every green thing doth he search.
9 Er Vildoksen villig at trælle for dig, vil den stå ved din Krybbe om Natten?
Will the forest-ox be willing to serve thee, or will he stay over night at thy crib?
10 Binder du Reb om dens Hals, pløjer den Furerne efter dig?
Canst thou bind the forest-ox with a rope [to labor] in the furrow? or will he harrow valleys, following after thee?
11 Stoler du på dens store Kræfter; overlader du den din Høst?
Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? and wilt thou leave to him thy labor?
12 Tror du, den kommer tilbage og samler din Sæd på Loen?
Wilt thou confide in him, that he should bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy threshing-floor?—
13 Mon Strudsens Vinge er lam, eller mangler den Dækfjer og Dun,
The wing of the ostrich moveth joyfully: hath she the pinions and plumage of the careful stork?
14 siden den betror sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Sandet,
[No, ] for she intrusteth her eggs to the earth, and letteth them be hatched out on the dust:
15 tænker ej på, at en Fod kan knuse dem, Vildtet på Marken træde dem sønder?
And she forgetteth that a foot may crush them, or that the beast of the field may stamp them down.
16 Hård ved Ungerne er den, som var de ej dens; spildt er dens Møje, det ængster den ikke.
He hath made her callous against her young, as though they were not hers: her labor is in vain, [but she feeleth] no dread;
17 Thi Gud lod den glemme Visdom og gav den ej Del i Indsigt.
Because God hath denied her wisdom, and he hath not imparted to her understanding.
18 Når Skytterne kommer, farer den bort, den ler ad Hest og Rytter.
At the time she raiseth herself up on high, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Giver du Hesten Styrke, klæder dens Hals med Manke
Dost thou give the horse strength? dost thou clothe his neck with the rolling mane?
20 og lærer den Græshoppens Spring? Dens stolte Prusten indgyder Rædsel.
Canst thou make him jump like a locust? his majestic snort is terrible.
21 Den skraber muntert i Dalen, går Brynjen væligt i Møde;
Men spy about in the valley, and he rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed array.
22 den ler ad Rædselen, frygter ikke og viger ikke for Sværdet;
He laugheth at fear, and is not dismayed; and turneth not back from before the sword.
23 Koggeret klirrer over den, Spydet og Køllen blinker;
Over him rattle the quiver, the glittering spear and the lance.
24 den sluger Vejen med gungrende Vildskab, den tøjler sig ikke, når Hornet lyder;
With impatient noise and rage he holloweth [with his hoof] the ground, and keepeth not quiet when the cornet's voice [is heard].
25 et Stød i Hornet, straks siger den: Huj! Den vejrer Kamp i det fjerne, Kampskrig og Førernes Råb.
Midst the sound of the cornet he uttereth his joyful neigh; and from afar he perceiveth the battle, the loud call of the captains, and the battle-cry.—
26 Skyldes det Indsigt hos dig, at Falken svinger sig op og breder sin Vinge mod Sønden?
Is it through thy understanding that the hawk flieth along, and spreadeth out his wings toward the south?
27 Skyldes det Bud fra dig, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin højtsatte Rede?
Or is it by your order that the eagle doth mount upward, and buildeth high up his nest?
28 Den bygger og bor på Klipper, på Klippens Tinde og Borg;
On a rock he dwelleth, and spendeth his nights, on a rocky crag and mountain fastness.
29 den spejder derfra efter Æde, viden om skuer dens Øjne.
From there he espieth his food, from afar can his eyes behold.
30 Ungerne svælger i Blod; hvor Valen findes, der er den!
His young ones, also, sip up blood: and where the slain be, there is he.
