Job 3
1 After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.
Derefter oplod Job sin Mund og forbandede sin Dag,
2 And Job commenced, and said,
og Job tog til Orde og sagde:
3 Oh that the day whereon I was born might perish, and the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived.
Bort med den Dag, jeg fødtes, den Nat, der sagde: »Se, en Dreng!«
4 May that day be [covered with] darkness; may not God from above inquire for it, and may no light beam upon it.
Denne Dag vorde Mørke, Gud deroppe spørge ej om den, over den straale ej Lyset frem!
5 Oh that darkness and the shadow of death might defile it; may a cloud rest upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
Mulm og Mørke løse den ind, Taage lægge sig over den, Formørkelser skræmme den!
6 Yon night — let darkness seize upon it; let it not be united to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the [periods lighted by the] moon.
Mørket tage den Nat, den høre ej hjemme blandt Aarets Dage, den komme ikke i Maaneders Tal!
7 Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.
Ja, denne Nat vorde gold, der lyde ej Jubel i den!
8 Let those denounce it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning cry.
De, der besværger Dage, forbande den, de, der har lært at hidse Livjatan;
9 Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it hope for light, and there be none; and let it not behold the eyelids of the morning-dawn;
dens Morgenstjerner formørkes, den bie forgæves paa Lys, den skue ej Morgenrødens Øjenlaag,
10 Because God closed not against me the doors of the womb, and thus concealed trouble from my eyes.
fordi den ej lukked mig Moderlivets Døre og skjulte Kvide for mit Blik!
11 Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
Hvi døde jeg ikke i Moders Liv eller udaanded straks fra Moders Skød?
12 Wherefore were knees ready to receive me? and for what purpose were breasts there that I might suck?
Hvorfor var der Knæ til at tage imod mig, hvorfor var der Bryster at die?
13 For now should I be lying still and be quiet; I should sleep: then would I be at rest,
Saa havde jeg nu ligget og hvilet, saa havde jeg slumret i Fred
14 With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build up ruined places for themselves;
blandt Konger og Jordens Styrere, der bygged sig Gravpaladser,
15 Or with princes possessing gold, who fill their houses with silver;
blandt Fyrster, rige paa Guld, som fyldte deres Huse med Sølv.
16 Or as an untimely birth, hidden [from view] I should not exist; as infants that never have seen the light;
Eller var jeg dog som et nedgravet Foster, som Børn, der ikke fik Lyset at se!
17 There [where] the wicked cease from troubling; and where the exhausted weary are at rest;
Der larmer de gudløse ikke mer, der hviler de trætte ud,
18 [Where] the prisoners repose together, [and] they hear no more the taskmaster's voice.
alle de fangne har Ro, de hører ej Fogedens Røst;
19 The small with the great is there, and the servant free from his master.
smaa og store er lige der og Trællen fri for sin Herre.
20 Wherefore giveth He now light to the labor-laden, and life unto the bitter in soul?
Hvi giver Gud de lidende Lys, de bittert sørgende Liv,
21 Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
dem, som bier forgæves paa Døden, graver derefter som efter Skatte,
22 Who would rejoice even to exulting, who would be glad could they but find a grave?
som glæder sig til en Stenhøj, jubler, naar de finder deres Grav —
23 [Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God hath placed a fence?
en Mand, hvis Vej er skjult, hvem Gud har stænget inde?
24 For before my food cometh my groaning, and like the water are poured forth my loud complaints.
Thi Suk er blevet mit daglige Brød, mine Ve raab strømmer som Vand.
25 Because what I greatly dreaded is come upon me, and what I apprehended is come unto me.
Thi hvad jeg gruer for, rammer mig, hvad jeg bæver for, kommer over mig.
26 I have had no safety, and no quiet, and no rest; and [now] harrowing trouble is come.
Knap har jeg Fred, og knap har jeg Ro, knap har jeg Hvile, saa kommer Uro!
