Job 31
1 A covenant had I made with my eyes: how then should I fix my look on a virgin?
Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se paa en Jomfru;
2 And what then would have been my portion of God from above? and what lot of the Almighty from on high?
hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
3 Is not calamity [ready] for the unjust? and misfortune for the wrong-doers?
Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udaadsmændene Modgang?
4 Behold, he truly seeth my ways, and numbereth all my steps;
Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
5 [And knoweth] whether I have walked with vain desires, or if my foot hath hastened after deceit.
Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig —
6 Let him weigh me then in a righteous balance, and let God acknowledge my integrity,
paa Rettens Vægtskaal veje han mig, saa Gud kan kende min Uskyld —
7 If my step have turned aside from the [proper] way, and my heart have walked after my eyes, and if any blemish have cleaved to my hands:
er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
8 Then let me sow, and let another eat; and let what I have growing be rooted out.
da gid jeg maa saa og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
9 If my heart have been beguiled toward a woman, or if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door:
Blev jeg en Daare paa Grund af en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
10 Then may my wife labor at the mill for another, and may strangers ill-use her;
saa dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
11 For this would be incest; yea, it would be an iniquity [to be punished by] the judges;
Thi sligt var Skændselsdaad, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
12 For it would be a fire that consumeth down to the place of corruption, and would root out all my products.
ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
13 If ever I cast aside the justice due to my man-servant and my maid-servant, when they contended with me:
Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, naar de trættede med mig,
14 What then could I do when God should rise up? and when he should investigate, what could I answer him?
hvad skulde jeg da gøre, naar Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, naar han saa efter?
15 Did not he that made me make him born or a woman? and did not the same one fashion 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 ever I denied the wish of the indigent, or ever allowed the eyes of the widow to fall [in vain hopes];
Har jeg afslaaet ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
17 Or if ever I ate my bread by myself alone, and the fatherless did not eat thereof;
var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf —
18 (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as though we were of one father, and I have guided her [as though she was sprung] from my mother's womb; )
nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
19 If ever I saw any one perishing for want of clothing, or the needy without covering:
Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe —
20 If his loins have not blessed me, and if he have not been warmed 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 swung my hand against the fatherless, because I saw in the gate those that would help me:
Har jeg løftet min Baand mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis paa Medhold i Retten,
22 Then may my shoulder fall from my shoulder-blade, and my arm be broken from the channel-bone;
saa falde min Skulder fra Nakken, saa rykkes min Arm af Led!
23 For dreaded by me was the calamitous punishment of God, and against his highness I can accomplish nothing.
Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og naar han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
24 If I have made gold my confidence, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my trust:
Har jeg slaaet min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
25 If ever I rejoiced because my wealth was abundant, and because my hand had gotten much;
var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Haand fik sanket saa meget,
26 If ever I looked at the light [of the sun] when he shone brightly and on the moon walking in splendor:
saa jeg, hvorledes Sollyset straaled, eller den herligt skridende Maane,
27 And my heart became misled in secret, and my hand kissed my mouth:
og lod mit Hjerte sig daare i Løn, saa jeg hylded dem med Kys paa min Haand —
28 This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for thus would I have denied the God that is above.
ogsaa det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
29 If ever I rejoiced at the downfall of him that hated me, or was elated when evil befell him; —
Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, naar han ramtes af Vanheld —
30 But I suffered not my mouth to sin by denouncing with a curse his soul: —
nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, saa jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
31 If the men of my tent said not, Oh is there one that is not satisfied of his flesh; —
Har min Husfælle ej maattet sige: »Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord« —
32 In the street a stranger had not to lodge; my doors I held open to the roadside;
nej, den fremmede laa ej ude om Natten, jeg aabned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
33 If I covered up my transgressions like a common man, by hiding in my bosom my iniquity;
Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, saa jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
34 Because I dreaded the great multitude, or because the contempt of families did terrify me, so that I kept silence, and dared not to go out of the door; —
af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, saa jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed! —
35 Oh who will bring me one that would hear me! behold, here is my plea; may the Almighty answer me; and any record which my opponent may have written, —
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 upon my shoulder would I carry it: I would bind it as a crown unto me.
Sandelig, tog jeg det paa min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
37 The number of my steps would I tell him: as [to] a prince would I go near unto him.—
svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
38 If my land ever cried out because of me, or if its furrows wept together;
Har min Mark maattet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
39 If I ever consumed its strength without payment, or caused the soul of its owners to grieve:
har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
40 Then may instead of wheat, thorns come forth, and instead of barley, cockle. (Here end the words of Job.)
saa gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
