Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded and said,
Saa tog Temaniten Elifaz til Orde og sagde:
2 “How can anyone be of help to God? Even wise people are only helpful to themselves.
Gavner et Menneske Gud? Nej, den kloge gavner sig selv.
3 Is it any benefit to the Almighty if you're a good person? What does he gain if you do what's right?
Har den Almægtige godt af din Retfærd, Vinding af, at din Vandel er ret?
4 Does he correct you and bring charges against you because of your reverence?
Revser han dig for din Gudsfrygt? Eller gaar han i Rette med dig derfor?
5 No: it's because you're so wicked! Your sins are never-ending!
Er ikke din Ondskab stor og din Brøde uden Ende?
6 For no reason at all you took your brother's clothing as a security for a debt, and left them stripped naked.
Thi du pantede Brødre uden Grund, trak Klæderne af de nøgne,
7 You refused water to the thirsty; you denied food to the hungry.
gav ikke den trætte Vand at drikke og nægted den sultne Brød.
8 Is it because the land belongs to the powerful, and only the privileged have a right to live there?
Den mægtige — hans var Landet, den hædrede boede der.
9 You have sent widows away empty-handed; you have crushed the outstretched arms of orphans, begging for help.
Du lod Enker gaa tomhændet bort, knuste de faderløses Arme.
10 That's why you're surrounded by traps to catch you, and why you suddenly panic in terror.
Derfor var der Snarer omkring dig, og Rædsel ængsted dig brat.
11 That's why it's so dark you cannot see, and why you feel like you're drowning.
Dit Lys blev Mørke, du kan ej se, og Strømme af Vand gaar over dig!
12 Doesn't God live in highest heaven and looks down on even the highest stars?
Er Gud ej i højen Himmel? Se Stjernernes Tinde, hvor højt de staar!
13 But you ask, ‘What does God know? How can he see and judge what happens in down here in darkness?
Dog siger du: »Hvad ved Gud, holder han Dom bag sorten Sky?
14 Thick clouds cover him so he can't see anything as he walks around in heaven.’
Skyerne skjuler ham, saa han ej ser, paa Himlens Runding gaar han!«
15 Why do you insist on following the traditional thinking of the wicked?
Vil du følge Fortidens Sti, som Urettens Mænd betraadte,
16 They were taken before their time; all they had built was washed away.
de, som i Utide reves bort, hvis Grundvold flød bort som en Strøm,
17 They had told God, ‘Get lost! What can the Almighty do to us?’
som sagde til Gud: »Gaa fra os! Hvad kan den Almægtige gøre os?«
18 And yet he was the one who had filled their homes with good things—but I don't accept their way of thinking.
Og han havde dog fyldt deres Huse med godt. Men de gudløses Raad er ham fjernt.
19 Those who do right rejoice when they see the destruction of the wicked, and the innocent mock them,
De retfærdige saa det og glædede sig, den uskyldige spottede dem:
20 saying, ‘Our enemies are destroyed, and fire has burned up all that's left of them.’
For vist, vore Fjender forgik, og Ild fortæred de sidste af dem.
21 Come back to God and be reconciled to him, and you'll be prosperous again.
Bliv Ven med ham og hold Fred, derved vil der times dig Lykke;
22 Listen to what he tells you and keep his words in mind.
tag dog mod Lærdom af ham og læg dig hans Ord paa Sinde!
23 If you return to God you will be restored. If you renounce your sinful life
Vender du ydmygt om til den Almægtige, fjerner du Uretten fra dit Telt,
24 and give up your love of money and desire for possessions,
kaster du Guldet paa Jorden, Ofirguldet blandt Bækkenes Sten,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
saa den Almægtige bliver dit Guld, hans Lov dit Sølv,
26 Then you will find delight in the Almighty, and be able to face him without feeling ashamed.
ja, da skal du fryde dig over den Almægtige og løfte dit Aasyn til Gud.
27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will keep your promises to him.
Beder du til ham, hører han dig, indfri kan du, hvad du har lovet;
28 Whatever you decide to do will be successful, and wherever you go, light will shine on you.
hvad du sætter dig for, det lykkes, det lysner paa dine Veje;
29 When others are humbled, and you say, ‘please help them,’ God will save them.
thi stolte, hovmodige ydmyger han, men hjælper den, der slaar Øjnene ned;
30 God saves those who are innocent, and you will be saved if you do what is right.”
han frelser uskyldig Mand; det sker ved hans Hænders Renhed!
