< Job 22 >

1 Så tog Temaniten Elifaz til Orde og sagde:
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
2 "Gavner et Menneske Gud? Nej, den kloge gavner sig selv.
Can a man be profitable unto God? Or can he that is wise be profitable unto Him?
3 Har den Almægtige godt af din Retfærd, Vinding af, at din Vandel er ret?
Is it any advantage to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain to Him, that thou makest thy ways blameless?
4 Revser han dig for din Gudsfrygt? Eller går han i Rette med dig derfor?
Is it for thy fear of Him that He reproveth thee, that He entereth with thee into judgment?
5 Er ikke din Ondskab stor og din Brøde uden Ende?
Is not thy wickedness great? And are not thine iniquities without end?
6 Thi du pantede Brødre uden Grund, trak Klæderne af de nøgne,
For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 gav ikke den trætte Vand at drikke og nægted den sultne Brød.
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.
8 Den mægtige - hans var Landet, den hædrede boede der.
And as a mighty man, who hath the earth, and as a man of rank, who dwelleth in it,
9 Du lod Enker gå tomhændet bort, knuste de faderløses Arme.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Derfor var der Snaret omkring dig, og Rædsel ængsted dig brat.
Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden dread affrighted thee,
11 Dit Lys blev Mørke, du kan ej se, og Strømme af Vand går over dig!
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.
12 Er Gud ej i højen Himmel? Se Stjernernes Tinde, hvor højt de står!
Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the topmost of the stars, how high they are!
13 Dog siger du: "Hvad ved Gud, holder han Dom bag sorten Sky?
And thou sayest: 'What doth God know? Can He judge through the dark cloud?
14 Skyerne skjuler ham, så han ej ser, på Himlens Runding går han!"
Thick clouds are a covering to Him, that He seeth not; and He walketh in the circuit of heaven.'
15 Vil du følge Fortidens Sti, som Urettens Mænd betrådte,
Wilt thou keep the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 de, som i Utide reves bort, hvis Grundvold flød bort som en Strøm,
Who were snatched away before their time, whose foundation was poured out as a stream;
17 som sagde til Gud: "Gå fra os! Hvad kan den Almægtige gøre os?"
Who said unto God: 'Depart from us'; and what could the Almighty do unto them?
18 Og han havde dog fyldt deres Huse med godt. Men de gudløses Råd er ham fjernt.
Yet He filled their houses with good things — but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 De retfærdige så det og glædede sig, den uskyldige spottede dem:
The righteous saw it, and were glad, and the innocent laugh them to scorn:
20 For vist, vore Fjender forgik, og Ild fortæred de sidste af dem.
'Surely their substance is cut off, and their abundance the fire hath consumed.'
21 Bliv Ven med ham og hold Fred. derved vil der times dig Lykke;
Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby shall thine increase be good.
22 tag dog mod Lærdom af ham og læg dig hans Ord på Sinde!
Receive, I pray thee, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in thy heart.
23 Vender du ydmygt om til den Almægtige, fjerner du Uretten fra dit Telt,
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up — if thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents,
24 kaster du Guldet på Jorden, Ofirguldet blandt Bækkenes Sten,
And lay thy treasure in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks;
25 så den Almægtige bliver dit Guld, hans Lov dit Sølv,
And the Almighty be thy treasure, and precious silver unto thee;
26 ja, da skal du fryde dig over den Almægtige og løfte dit Åsyn til Gud.
Then surely shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.
27 Beder du til ham, hører han dig, indfri kan du, hvad du har lovet;
Thou shalt make thy prayer unto Him, and He will hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows;
28 hvad du sætter dig for, det lykkes, det lysner på dine Veje;
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee, and light shall shine upon thy ways.
29 thi stolte, hovmodige ydmyger han, men hjælper den, der slår Øjnene ned;
When they cast thee down, thou shalt say: 'There is lifting up'; for the humble person He saveth.
30 han frelser uskyldig Mand; det sker ved hans Hænders Renhed!
He delivereth him that is innocent, yea, thou shalt be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.

< Job 22 >