¹Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:

¹And Job answereth and saith: —

²"Ja, sandelig, I er de rette, med eder dør Visdommen ud!

²Truly — ye [are] the people, And with you doth wisdom die.

³Også jeg har som I Forstand, står ikke tilbage for eder, hvo kender vel ikke sligt?

³I also have a heart like you, I am not fallen more than you, And with whom is there not like these?

⁴Til Latter for Venner er den, der råbte til Gud og fik Svar. den retfærdige er til Latter.

⁴A laughter to his friend I am: `He calleth to God, and He answereth him,` A laughter [is] the perfect righteous one.

⁵I Ulykke falder de fromme, den sorgløse spotter Faren, hans Fod står fast, mens Fristen varer.

⁵A torch — despised in the thoughts of the secure Is prepared for those sliding with the feet.

⁶I Fred er Voldsmænds Telte, og trygge er de, der vækker Guds Vrede, den, der fører Gud i sin Hånd.

⁶At peace are the tents of spoilers, And those provoking God have confidence, He into whose hand God hath brought.

⁷Spørg dog Kvæget, det skal lære dig, Himlens Fugle, de skal oplyse dig,

⁷And yet, ask, I pray thee, [One of] the beasts, and it doth shew thee, And a fowl of the heavens, And it doth declare to thee.

⁸se til Jorden, den skal lære dig lad Havets Fisk fortælle dig det!

⁸Or talk to the earth, and it sheweth thee, And fishes of the sea recount to thee:

⁹Hvem blandt dem alle ved vel ikke, at HERRENs Hånd har skabt det;

⁹`Who hath not known in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath done this?

¹⁰han holder alt levendes Sjæl i sin Hånd, alt Menneskekødets Ånd!

¹⁰In whose hand [is] the breath of every living thing, And the spirit of all flesh of man.`

¹¹Prøver ej Øret Ord, og smager ej Ganen Maden?

¹¹Doth not the ear try words? And the palate taste food for itself?

¹²Er Alderdom eet med Visdom, Dagenes Række med Indsigt?

¹²With the very aged [is] wisdom, And [with] length of days understanding.

¹³Hos ham er der Visdom og Vælde, hos ham er der Råd og Indsigt.

¹³With Him [are] wisdom and might, To him [are] counsel and understanding.

¹⁴Hvad han river ned, det bygges ej op, den, han lukker inde, kommer ej ud;

¹⁴Lo, He breaketh down, and it is not built up, He shutteth against a man, And it is not opened.

¹⁵han dæmmer for Vandet, og Tørke kommer, han slipper det løs, og det omvælter Jorden.

¹⁵Lo, He keepeth in the waters, and they are dried up, And he sendeth them forth, And they overturn the land.

¹⁶Hos ham er der Kraft og Fasthed; den, der farer og fører vild, er hans Værk.

¹⁶With Him [are] strength and wisdom, His the deceived and deceiver.

¹⁷Rådsherrer fører han nøgne bort, og Dommere gør han til Tåber;

¹⁷Causing counsellors to go away a spoil, And judges He maketh foolish.

¹⁸han løser, hvad Konger bandt, og binder dem Reb om Lænd;

¹⁸The bands of kings He hath opened, And He bindeth a girdle on their loins.

¹⁹Præster fører han nøgne bort og styrter ældgamle Slægter;

¹⁹Causing ministers to go away a spoil And strong ones He overthroweth.

²⁰han røver de dygtige Mælet og tager de gamles Sans;

²⁰Turning aside the lip of the stedfast, And the reason of the aged He taketh away.

²¹han udøser Hån over Fyrster og løser de stærkes Bælte;

²¹Pouring contempt upon princes, And the girdle of the mighty He made feeble.

²²han drager det skjulte frem af Mørket og bringer Mulmet for Lyset,

²²Removing deep things out of darkness, And He bringeth out to light death-shade.

²³gør Folkene store og lægger dem øde, udvider Folkeslags Grænser og fører dem atter bort;

²³Magnifying the nations, and He destroyeth them, Spreading out the nations, and He quieteth them.

²⁴han tager Jordens Høvdingers Vid og lader dem rave i vejløst Øde;

²⁴Turning aside the heart Of the heads of the people of the land, And he causeth them to wander In vacancy — no way!

²⁵de famler i Mørke uden Lys og raver omkring som drukne.

²⁵They feel darkness, and not light, He causeth them to wander as a drunkard.