Job 3
1 Derefter oplod Job sin Mund og forbandede sin Dag,
After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his day,
2 og Job tog til Orde og sagde:
and this is what he said:
3 Bort med den Dag, jeg fødtes, den Nat, der sagde: "Se, en Dreng!"
May the day perish on which I was born, and the night, in which it was said, “A man has been conceived.”
4 Denne Dag vorde Mørke, Gud deroppe spørge ej om den, over den stråle ej Lyset frem!
May that day be turned into darkness, may God not seek it from above, and may light not illuminate it.
5 Mulm og Mørke løse den ind, Tåge lægge sig over den, Formørkelser skræmme den!
Let darkness and the shadow of death obscure it, let a fog overtake it, and let it be enveloped in bitterness.
6 Mørket tage den Nat, den høre ej hjemme blandt Årets Dage, den komme ikke i Måneders Tal!
Let a whirlwind of darkness take hold of that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.
7 Ja, denne Nat vorde gold, der lyde ej Jubel i den!
May that night be alone and unworthy of praise.
8 De, der besværger Dage, forbande den, de, der har lært at hidse Livjatan";
May they curse it, who curse the day, who are prepared to awaken a leviathan.
9 dens Morgenstjerner formørkes, den bie forgæves på Lys, den skue ej Morgenrødens Øjenlåg,
Let the stars be concealed with its darkness. Let it expect light, and not see it, nor the rising of the dawn in the East.
10 fordi den ej lukked mig Moderlivets Døre og skjulte Kvide for mit Blik!
For it did not close the doors of the womb that bore me, nor take away evils from my eyes.
11 Hvi døde jeg ikke i Moders Liv eller udånded straks fra Moders Skød?
Why did I not die in the womb? Having left the womb, why did I not immediately perish?
12 Hvorfor var der Knæ til at tage imod mig, hvorfor var der Bryster at die?
Why was I received upon the knees? Why was I suckled at the breasts?
13 Så havde jeg nu ligget og hvilet, så havde jeg slumret i Fred
For by now, I should have been sleeping silently, and taking rest in my sleep
14 blandt Konger og Jordens Styrere, der bygged sig Gravpaladser,
with the kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes,
15 blandt Fyrster, rige på Guld, som fyldte deres Huse med Sølv.
either with princes, who possess gold and fill their houses with silver,
16 Eller var jeg dog som et nedgravet Foster. som Børn, der ikke fik Lyset at se!
or, like a hidden miscarriage, I should not have continued, just like those who, being conceived, have not seen the light.
17 Der larmer de gudløse ikke mer, der hviler de trætte ud,
There the impious cease from rebellion, and there the wearied in strength take rest.
18 alle de fangne har Ro, de hører ej Fogedens Røst;
And at such times, having been bound together without difficulty, they have not heard the voice of the bailiff.
19 små og store er lige der og Trællen fri for sin Herre.
The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master.
20 Hvi giver Gud de lidende Lys, de bittert sørgende Liv,
Why is light given to the miserable, and life to those who are in bitterness of soul,
21 dem, som bier forgæves på Døden, graver derefter som efter Skatte,
who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasure
22 som glæder sig til en Stenhøj, jubler, når de finder deres Grav
and who rejoice greatly when they have found the grave,
23 en Mand, hvis Vej er skjult, hvem Gud har stænget inde?
to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has surrounded with darkness?
24 Thi Suk er blevet mit daglige Brød, mine Ve råb strømmer som Vand.
Before I eat, I sigh; and like overflowing waters, so is my howl,
25 Thi hvad jeg gruer for, rammer mig, hvad jeg bæver for, kommer over mig.
for the terror that I feared has happened to me, and so has the dread befallen me.
26 Knap har jeg Fred, og knap har jeg Ro, knap har jeg Hvile, så kommer Uro!
Have I not remained hidden? Have I not kept silence? Have I not remained calm? Yet indignation has overcome me.
