Job 29
1 Job went on speaking.
Og Job vedblev at fremsætte sit Tankesprog:
2 “I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
Ak, havde jeg det som tilforn, som dengang Gud tog sig af mig,
3 His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
da hans Lampe lyste over mit Hoved, og jeg ved hans Lys vandt frem i Mørke,
4 When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
som i mine modne Aar, da Guds Fortrolighed var over mit Telt,
5 The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
da den Almægtige end var hos mig og mine Drenge var om mig,
6 My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
da mine Fødder vaded i Fløde, og Olie strømmede, hvor jeg stod,
7 I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
da jeg gik ud til Byens Port og rejste mit Sæde paa Torvet.
8 The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
Naar Ungdommen saa mig, gemte den sig, Oldinge rejste sig op og stod,
9 The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
Høvdinger standsed i Talen og lagde Haand paa Mund,
10 The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
Stormænds Røst forstummed, deres Tunge klæbed til Ganen;
11 Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
Øret hørte og priste mig lykkelig, Øjet saa og tilkendte mig Ære.
12 because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
Thi jeg redded den arme, der skreg om Hjælp, den faderløse, der savned en Hjælper;
13 Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
den, det gik skævt, velsignede mig, jeg frydede Enkens Hjerte;
14 Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
jeg klædte mig i Retfærd, og den i mig, i Ret som Kappe og Hovedbind.
15 I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
Jeg var den blindes Øje, jeg var den lammes Fod;
16 I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
jeg var de fattiges Fader, udreded den mig ukendtes Sag;
17 I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
den lovløses Tænder brød jeg, rev Byttet ud af hans Gab.
18 I thought I would die at home, after many years.
Saa tænkte jeg da: »Jeg skal dø i min Rede, leve saa længe som Føniksfuglen;
19 Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
min Rod kan Vand komme til, Duggen har Nattely i mine Grene;
20 Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
min Ære er altid ny, min Bue er altid ung i min Haand!«
21 People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
Mig hørte de paa og bied, var tavse, mens jeg gav Raad;
22 Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
ingen tog Ordet, naar jeg havde talt, mine Ord faldt kvægende paa dem;
23 They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
de bied paa mig som paa Regn, spærred Munden op efter Vaarregn.
24 When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
Mistrøstige smilte jeg til, mit Aasyns Lys fik de ej til at svinde.
25 I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
Vejen valgte jeg for dem og sad som Høvding, troned som Konge blandt Hærmænd, som den, der gav sørgende Trøst.
