Job 31
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I gaze with desire at a virgin?
Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
2 For what is the allotment of God from above, or the heritage from the Almighty on high?
hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
3 Does not disaster come to the unjust and calamity to the workers of iniquity?
Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
4 Does He not see my ways and count my every step?
Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
5 If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit,
Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
6 let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
7 If my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has followed my eyes, or if impurity has stuck to my hands,
er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
8 then may another eat what I have sown, and may my crops be uprooted.
da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
9 If my heart has been enticed by my neighbor’s wife, or I have lurked at his door,
Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
10 then may my own wife grind grain for another, and may other men sleep with her.
saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
11 For that would be a heinous crime, an iniquity to be judged.
Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
12 For it is a fire that burns down to Abaddon; it would root out my entire harvest.
ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
13 If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or maidservant when they made a complaint against me,
Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
14 what will I do when God rises to judge? How will I answer when called to account?
hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
15 Did not He who made me in the womb also make them? Did not the same One form us in the womb?
Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
16 If I have denied the desires of the poor or allowed the widow’s eyes to fail,
Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
17 if I have eaten my morsel alone, not sharing it with the fatherless—
var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
18 though from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow—
nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
19 if I have seen one perish for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a cloak,
Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
20 if his heart has not blessed me for warming him with the fleece of my sheep,
visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
21 if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless because I saw that I had support in the gate,
Har jeg løftet min Baand mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis paa Medhold i Retten,
22 then may my arm fall from my shoulder and be torn from its socket.
saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
23 For calamity from God terrifies me, and His splendor I cannot overpower.
Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
24 If I have put my trust in gold or called pure gold my security,
Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
25 if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
26 if I have beheld the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor,
saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,
og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
28 this would also be an iniquity to be judged, for I would have denied God on high.
ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
29 If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—
Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by asking for his life with a curse—
nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
31 if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—
Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —
32 but no stranger had to lodge on the street, for my door has been open to the traveler—
nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
33 if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,
Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
34 because I greatly feared the crowds and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so that I kept silent and would not go outside—
af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
35 (Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.
Ak, var der dog en, der hørte paa mig! Her er mit Bomærke — lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder and wear it like a crown.
Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
37 I would give account of all my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.)—
svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
38 if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
39 if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,
har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
40 then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.
saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
