Job 31

1 I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?

Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;

2 For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?

hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?

3 Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?

Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?

4 Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?

Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?

5 If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;

Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —

6 (Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )

paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —

7 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;

er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,

8 Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.

da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!

9 If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;

Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,

10 Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.

saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!

11 For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:

Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,

12 It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!

13 If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;

Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,

14 What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?

hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?

15 Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?

Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?

16 If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;

Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,

17 If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;

var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —

18 (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; )

nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.

19 If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;

Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —

20 If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;

visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, naar han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.

21 If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;

Har jeg løftet min Baand mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis paa Medhold i Retten,

22 May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.

saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!

23 For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.

Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!

24 If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;

Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,

25 If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;

var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,

26 If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,

saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,

27 A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;

og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —

28 That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.

29 If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;

Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —

30 (For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )

nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.

31 If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?

Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —

32 The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;

nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.

33 If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,

Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet

34 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;

af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —

35 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!

Ak, var der dog en, der hørte paa mig! Her er mit Bomærke — lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!

36 Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;

Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,

37 I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.

svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.

38 If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;

Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,

39 If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;

har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,

40 Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.

saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.