Job 21
1 Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Then Job responded by saying:
2 "Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!
I beseech you to hear my words and to do penance.
3 Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo håne!
Permit me, and I will speak, and afterwards, if you see fit, you can laugh at my words.
4 Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utålmodig?
Is my dispute against man, so that I would have no reason to be discouraged?
5 Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Hånd på Mund!
Listen to me and be astonished, and place a finger over your mouth.
6 Jeg gruer, når jeg tænker derpå, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:
As for me, when I think it over, I am afraid, and trembling convulses my body.
7 De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?
Why then do the impious live, having been lifted up and strengthened with riches?
8 Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;
They see their offspring continue before them: a commotion of close relatives and of children’s children in their sight.
9 deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;
Their houses have been secure and peaceable, and there is no staff of God over them.
10 ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;
Their cattle have conceived and have not miscarried; their cow has given birth and is not deprived of her newborn.
11 de slipper deres Drenge ud som Får, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;
Their little ones go out like a flock, and their children jump around playfully.
12 de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;
They take up the timbrel and the lyre, and they rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Their days are prolonged in wealth, yet, in an instant, they descend into hell. (Sheol h7585)
14 skønt de siger til Gud: "Gå fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!
Who has said to God, “Depart from us, for we do not want the knowledge of your ways.
15 Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke på hos ham?"
Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? And how is it helpful to us if we pray to him?”
16 Er ej deres Lykke i deres Hånd og gudløses Råd ham fjernt?
It is true that their good things are not in their power. May the counsel of the impious be far from me!
17 Når går de gudløses Lampe ud og når kommer Ulykken over dem? Når deler han Loddet ud i sin Vrede,
How often will the lamp of the wicked be extinguished, and a deluge overtake them, and how often will he distribute the afflictions of his wrath?
18 så de bliver som Strå for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?
They will be like chaff before the face of the wind, and like ashes that the whirlwind scatters.
19 Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, så han mærker det,
God will preserve the grief of the father for his sons, and, when he repays, then he will understand.
20 lad ham selv få sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!
His eyes will see his own destruction, and he will drink from the wrath of the Almighty.
21 Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, når hans Måneders Tal er udrundet?
For what does he care what happens to his house after him, or if the number of its months are reduced by half?
22 Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?
Can anyone teach holy knowledge to God, who judges the exalted?
23 En dør jo på Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og så helt uden Sorger:
This one dies strong and healthy, rich and happy.
24 hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;
His gut is full of fat and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;
In truth, another dies in bitterness of soul, without any resources.
26 de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.
27 Se, jeg kender så vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,
Surely, I know your thoughts and your sinful judgments against me.
28 når I siger: "Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?"
For you say, “Where is the house of the ruler, and where are the tabernacles of the impious?”
29 Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:
Ask any passerby whom you wish, and you will realize that he understands these same things:
30 Den onde skånes på Ulykkens Dag og frelses på Vredens Dag.
that the evil-doer is reserved for the day of destruction, and he will be led to the day of wrath.
31 Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?
Who will reprove his way to his face, and who will repay him for what he has done?
32 Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;
He will be led to the tomb, and he will remain awake in the chaos of the dead.
33 i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger så efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.
He has been found acceptable to the banks of the River of Lamentation, and he will draw any man towards him, and there are countless before him.
34 Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar - kun Svig er tilbage!
Therefore, how long will you console me in vain, when your answer is shown to be repugnant to truth?
