Job 21

Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:

But Job answered and said,

"Hør dog, hør mine Ord, lad det være Trøsten, I giver!

Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

Find jer nu i, at jeg taler, siden kan I jo håne!

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

Gælder min Klage Mennesker? Hvi skulde jeg ej være utålmodig?

As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

Vend jer til mig og stivn af Rædsel, læg Hånd på Mund!

Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.

Jeg gruer, når jeg tænker derpå, mit Legeme gribes af Skælven:

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

De gudløse, hvorfor lever de, bliver gamle, ja vokser i Kraft?

Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

Deres Æt har de blivende hos sig, deres Afkom for deres Øjne;

Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.

deres Huse er sikre mod Rædsler, Guds Svøbe rammer dem ikke;

Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.

ej springer deres Tyr forgæves, Koen kælver, den kaster ikke;

Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.

de slipper deres Drenge ud som Får, deres Børneflok boltrer sig ret;

They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.

de synger til Pauke og Citer, er glade til Fløjtens Toner;

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

de lever deres Dage i Lykke og synker med Fred i Dødsriget,

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

skønt de siger til Gud: "Gå fra os, at kende dine Veje er ikke vor Lyst!

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.

Den Almægtige? Hvad han? Skal vi tjene ham? Hvad Gavn at banke på hos ham?"

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

Er ej deres Lykke i deres Hånd og gudløses Råd ham fjernt?

Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

Når går de gudløses Lampe ud og når kommer Ulykken over dem? Når deler han Loddet ud i sin Vrede,

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.

så de bliver som Strå for Vinden, som Avner, Storm fører bort?

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

Gemmer Gud hans Ulykkeslod til hans Børn? Ham selv gengælde han, så han mærker det,

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

lad ham selv få sit Vanheld at se, den Almægtiges Vrede at drikke!

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Thi hvad bryder han sig siden om sit Hus, når hans Måneders Tal er udrundet?

For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?

Kan man vel tage Gud i Skole, ham, som dømmer de højeste Væsner?

Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

En dør jo på Lykkens Tinde, helt tryg og så helt uden Sorger:

One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.

hans Spande er fulde af Mælk, hans Knogler af saftig Marv;

His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.

med bitter Sjæl dør en anden og har aldrig nydt nogen Lykke;

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.

de lægger sig begge i Jorden, og begge dækkes af Orme!

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

Se, jeg kender så vel eders Tanker og de Rænker, I spinder imod mig,

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

når I siger: "Hvor er Stormandens Hus og det Telt, hvor de gudløse bor?"

For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?

Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:

Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,

Den onde skånes på Ulykkens Dag og frelses på Vredens Dag.

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.

Hvem foreholder ham vel hans Færd, gengælder ham, hvad han gør?

Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?

Til Graven bæres han hen, ved hans Gravhøj holdes der Vagt;

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

i Dalbunden hviler han sødt, Alverden følger så efter, en Flok uden Tal gik forud for ham.

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.

Hvor tom er den Trøst, som I giver! Eders Svar - kun Svig er tilbage!

How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?