Job 31

Jeg sluttede en Pagt med mit Øje om ikke at se på en Jomfru;

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

hvad var ellers min Lod fra Gud hist oppe, den Arv, den Almægtige gav fra det høje?

For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

Har ikke den lovløse Vanheld i Vente, Udådsmændene Modgang?

Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

Ser han ej mine Veje og tæller alle mine Skridt?

Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

Har jeg holdt til med Løgn, og hasted min Fod til Svig

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

på Rettens Vægtskål veje han mig, så Gud kan kende min Uskyld

Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

er mit Skridt bøjet af fra Vejen, og har mit Hjerte fulgt mine Øjne, hang noget ved mine Hænder,

If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

da gid jeg må så og en anden fortære, og hvad jeg planted, oprykkes med Rode!

Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

Blev jeg en Dåre på Grund at en Kvinde, og har jeg luret ved Næstens Dør,

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;

så dreje min Hustru Kværn for en anden, og andre bøje sig over hende!

Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.

Thi sligt var Skændselsdåd, Brøde, der drages for Retten,

For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

ja, Ild, der æder til Afgrunden og sætter hele min Høst i Brand!

For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Har jeg ringeagtet min Træls og min Trælkvindes Ret, når de trættede med mig,

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

hvad skulde jeg da gøre, når Gud stod op, hvad skulde jeg svare, når han så efter?

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

Har ikke min Skaber skabt ham i Moders Skød, har en og samme ej dannet os begge i Moders Liv?

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

Har jeg afslået ringes Ønske, ladet Enkens Øjne vansmægte,

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

var jeg ene om at spise mit Brød, har den faderløse ej spist deraf

Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;

nej, fra Barnsben fostred jeg ham som en Fader, jeg ledede hende fra min Moders Skød.

(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)

Har jeg set en Stakkel blottet for Klæder, en fattig savne et Tæppe

If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;

visselig nej, hans Hofter velsigned mig, når han varmed sig i Uld af mine Lam.

If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

Har jeg løftet min Bånd mod en faderløs, fordi jeg var vis på Medhold i Retten,

If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

så falde min Skulder fra Nakken, så rykkes min Arm af Led!

Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.

Thi Guds Rædsel var kommet over mig, og når han rejste sig, magted jeg intet!

For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.

Har jeg slået min Lid til Guld, kaldt det rene Guld min Fortrøstning,

If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;

var det min Glæde, at Rigdommen voksed, og at min Hånd fik sanket så meget,

If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;

så jeg, hvorledes Sollyset stråled, eller den herligt skridende Måne,

If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;

og lod mit Hjerte sig dåre i Løn, så jeg hylded dem med Kys på min Hånd

And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:

også det var Brøde, der drages for Retten, thi da fornægted jeg Gud hist oppe.

This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.

Var min Avindsmands Fald min Glæd jubled jeg, når han ramtes af Vanheld

If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:

nej, jeg tillod ikke min Gane at synde, så jeg bandende kræved hans Sjæl.

Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

Har min Husfælle ej måttet sige: "Hvem mættedes ej af Kød fra hans Bord"

If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

nej, den fremmede lå ej ude om Natten, jeg åbned min Dør for Vandringsmænd.

The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.

Har jeg skjult mine Synder, som Mennesker gør, så jeg dulgte min Brøde i Brystet

If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

af Frygt for den store Hob, af Angst for Stamfrænders Ringeagt, så jeg blev inden Døre i Stilhed!

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

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 one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.

Sandelig, tog jeg det på min Skulder, kransed mit Hoved dermed som en Krone,

Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.

svared ham for hvert eneste Skridt og mødte ham som en Fyrste.

I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

Har min Mark måttet skrige over mig og alle Furerne græde,

If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;

har jeg tæret dens Kraft uden Vederlag, udslukt dens Ejeres Liv,

If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:

så gro der Tjørn for Hvede og Ukrudt i Stedet for Byg! Her ender Jobs Ord.

Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.