Job 31
1 Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se på en Jomfru;
A covenant, I solemnised for mine eyes, —How then could I gaze upon a virgin?
2 hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?
Or what would have been my portion of GOD from above? Or what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?
3 Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udådsmændene Modgang?
Is there not calamity, for the perverse? and misfortune, for the workers of iniquity?
4 Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?
Would, he, not see my ways? and of all my steps, take account?
5 Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig
Verily I walked not in falsity, nor did my foot haste unto deceit: —
6 på Rettens Vægtskål veje han mig, så Gud kan kende min Uskyld
Let him weigh me in balances of righteousness, —and let GOD take note of mine integrity!
7 er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,
If my goings have swerved from the way, —and, after mine eyes, hath gone my heart, and, to my hands, hath adhered any stain,
8 da gid jeg må så og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!
Let me sow but, another, eat. And let, what I have springing up, be uprooted!
9 Blev jeg en Dåre på Grund at en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,
If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, or, by the door of my neighbour, I have lien in wait,
10 så dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!
Let my wife, grind to another, and, over her, let others bend!
11 Thi sligt var Skændselsdåd, Brøde, der drages for Retten,
Surely that had been a shameful thing! and that an iniquity for the judges!
12 ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!
Surely, a fire, had that been, which, unto destruction, would have consumed, and, of all mine increase, had it torn up the root.
13 Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, når de trættede med mig,
If I refused the right of my servant, or my handmaid, when they contended with me,
14 hvad skulde jeg da gøre, når Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, når han så efter?
What then could I have done when GOD rose up? And, when he visited, what could I have answered him?
15 Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?
Did not he who, in the womb, made me, make him? And is not he who formed us in the body one?
16 Har jeg afslået ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,
If I withheld—from pleasure—the poor, or, the eyes of the widow, I dimmed;
17 var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf
Or, used to eat my morsel alone, so that the fatherless did not eat thereof;
18 nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.
Surely, from my youth, he grew up to me, as to a father, and, from my birth, I acted as guide to her:
19 Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe
If I saw one perishing for lack of clothing, or that the needy had no covering;
20 visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, når han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.
If his loins did not bless me, or if, with the fleece of my lambs, he did not warm himself;
21 Har jeg løftet min Bånd mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis på Medhold i Retten,
If I shook—against the fatherless—my hand, when I saw, in the gate, his need of my help,
22 så falde min Skulder fra Nakken, så rykkes min Arm af Led!
Let, my shoulder, from the shoulder-blade, fall, and, my arm, from the upper bone, be broken;
23 Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og når han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!
For, a dread unto me, was calamity from GOD, and, from his majesty, I could not escape.
24 Har jeg slået min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,
If I made gold my stay, and, to precious metal, said, My confidence!
25 var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Hånd fik sanket så meget,
If I rejoiced because great was my substance, and, an abundance, my hand had discovered;
26 så jeg, hvorledes Sollyset stråled, eller den herligt skridende Måne,
If I looked at the sun, when it flashed forth light, or at the moon, majestically marching along;
27 og lod mit Hjerte sig dåre i Løn, så jeg hylded dem med Kys på min Hånd
And befooled secretly was my heart, so that my hand kissed my mouth,
28 også det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.
That too, had been a judicial iniquity, For I should have been false to GOD, above.
29 Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, når han ramtes af Vanheld
If rejoiced in the misfortune of him that hated me, or exulted when calamity found him; —
30 nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, så jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.
Neither did I suffer my palate to sin, by asking, with a curse, for his life:
31 Har min Husfælle ej måttet sige: "Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord"
If the men of my household have not said, Oh for some of his flesh—we cannot get filled,
32 nej, den fremmede lå ej ude om Natten, jeg åbned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.
Outside, the sojourner lodged not for the night, My doors—to the wayfarer, I threw open.
33 Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, så jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet
If I covered, like Adam, my transgressions, by hiding in my bosom mine iniquity,
34 af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, så jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed!
Then let me be made to tremble at a great throng, yea let, the contempt of families, terrify me, so that, keeping silence, I shall not go out of the door!
35 Ak, var der dog en, der hørte på mig! Her er mit Bomærke - lad den Almægtige svare! Havde jeg blot min Modparts Indlæg!
Oh that I had one to hear me, Lo! my crossmark, May, the Almighty, answer me! And would that, a book, mine opponent had written!
36 Sandelig, tog jeg det på min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,
Oh! would I not, upon my shoulder, lift it, or bind it as a crown upon me;
37 svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.
The number of my footsteps, I would declare to him, Like a noble, would I draw near to him.
38 Har min Mark måttet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,
If, against me, my ground used to cry out, and, together, my ridges did weep;
39 har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,
If, the strength thereof, I used to eat, without payment, and, the soul of the holders thereof, I made groan;
40 så gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.
Instead of wheat, let there come forth bramble, and, instead of barley, a bad-smelling weed! Ended are the words of Job.
