Job 39
1 Kender du Tiden, da Stengeden føder, tager du Vare på Hindenes Veer,
Knowest thou the season when the Wild Goats of the crags beget? The bringing forth of the hinds, canst thou observe?
2 tæller du mon deres Drægtigheds Måneder, kender du Tiden, de føder?
Canst thou count the months they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they give birth?
3 De lægger sig ned og føder og kaster Kuldet,
They kneel down, their young, they bring forth; their pains, they throw off;
4 Ungerne trives, gror til i det frie, løber bort og kommer ej til dem igen.
Their young become strong, they grow up in the open field, they go out, and return not unto them.
5 Hvem slap Vildæslet løs, hvem løste mon Steppeæslets Reb,
Who hath sent forth the Wild Ass free? And, the bands of the swift-runner, who hath loosed?
6 som jeg gav Ørkenen til Hjem, den salte Steppe til Bolig?
Whose house I have made the waste plain, and his dwellings, the land of salt:
7 Det ler ad Byens Larm og hører ej Driverens Skælden;
He laugheth at the throng of the city, The shoutings of the driver, he heareth not;
8 det ransager Bjerge, der har det sin Græsgang, det leder hvert Græsstrå op.
He espieth the mountains, his pasture-ground, and, after every green thing, maketh search.
9 Er Vildoksen villig at trælle for dig, vil den stå ved din Krybbe om Natten?
Will the Wild-Ox be pleased to be thy servant? or lodge for the night by thy crib?
10 Binder du Reb om dens Hals, pløjer den Furerne efter dig?
Canst thou bind the wild-ox, so that—with the ridge—shall run his cord? Or will he harrow the furrows after thee?
11 Stoler du på dens store Kræfter; overlader du den din Høst?
Wilt thou trust in him, because of the greatness of his strength? Wilt thou leave unto him thy toil?
12 Tror du, den kommer tilbage og samler din Sæd på Loen?
Wilt thou put faith in him, that he will bring back thy seed? and that, corn for thy threshing-floor, he will gather?
13 Mon Strudsens Vinge er lam, eller mangler den Dækfjer og Dun,
The wing of the Ostrich that waveth itself joyfully, Is it the pinion of lovingkindness or the plumage?
14 siden den betror sine Æg til Jorden og lader dem varmes i Sandet,
For she leaveth—to the earth—her eggs, and, on the dust, she letteth them be warmed;
15 tænker ej på, at en Fod kan knuse dem, Vildtet på Marken træde dem sønder?
And hath forgotten, that, a foot, may crush them, —or, the wild beast, tread on them!
16 Hård ved Ungerne er den, som var de ej dens; spildt er dens Møje, det ængster den ikke.
Dealing hardly with her young, as none-of-hers, In vain, her labour, without dread.
17 Thi Gud lod den glemme Visdom og gav den ej Del i Indsigt.
For GOD hath suffered her to forget wisdom, and given her no share in understanding.
18 Når Skytterne kommer, farer den bort, den ler ad Hest og Rytter.
What time, on high, she vibrateth her wings, she laugheth at the horse and his rider.
19 Giver du Hesten Styrke, klæder dens Hals med Manke
Couldst thou give—to the Horse—strength? Couldst thou clothe his neck with the quivering mane?
20 og lærer den Græshoppens Spring? Dens stolte Prusten indgyder Rædsel.
Couldst thou cause him to leap like a locust? The majesty of his snort, is a terror!
21 Den skraber muntert i Dalen, går Brynjen væligt i Møde;
He diggeth into the plain, and rejoiceth in vigour, he goeth forth to meet armour;
22 den ler ad Rædselen, frygter ikke og viger ikke for Sværdet;
He laugheth at dread, and is not dismayed, neither turneth he back, from the face of the sword;
23 Koggeret klirrer over den, Spydet og Køllen blinker;
Against him, whiz [the arrows of] the quiver, the flashing head of spear and javelin;
24 den sluger Vejen med gungrende Vildskab, den tøjler sig ikke, når Hornet lyder;
With stamping and rage, he drinketh up the ground, —he will not stand still when the horn soundeth;
25 et Stød i Hornet, straks siger den: Huj! Den vejrer Kamp i det fjerne, Kampskrig og Førernes Råb.
As oft as the horn soundeth, he saith, Aha! And, from afar, he scenteth the battle, —the thunder of commanders and the war-cry.
26 Skyldes det Indsigt hos dig, at Falken svinger sig op og breder sin Vinge mod Sønden?
Is it, by thine understanding, that the Bird of Passage betaketh him to his pinions? spreadeth out his wings to the south?
27 Skyldes det Bud fra dig, at Ørnen flyver højt og bygger sin højtsatte Rede?
Or, at thy bidding, that the Eagle mounteth, and that he setteth on high his nest?
28 Den bygger og bor på Klipper, på Klippens Tinde og Borg;
The crag, he inhabiteth, and so lodgeth himself, on the tooth of the crag, and high fort;
29 den spejder derfra efter Æde, viden om skuer dens Øjne.
From thence, he searcheth out food, far away, his eyes do pierce;
30 Ungerne svælger i Blod; hvor Valen findes, der er den!
And, his young brood, suck up blood, and, where the slain are, there, is he.
