Job 21

But Job answered and said,

Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Har I aldrig spurgt de berejste og godkendt deres Beviser:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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