1Derefter oplod Job sin Mund og forbandede sin Dag,
1After this hath Job opened his mouth, and revileth his day.
2og Job tog til Orde og sagde:
2And Job answereth and saith: —
3Bort med den Dag, jeg fødtes, den Nat, der sagde: "Se, en Dreng!"
3Let the day perish in which I am born, And the night that hath said: `A man-child hath been conceived.`
4Denne Dag vorde Mørke, Gud deroppe spørge ej om den, over den stråle ej Lyset frem!
4That day — let it be darkness, Let not God require it from above, Nor let light shine upon it.
5Mulm og Mørke løse den ind, Tåge lægge sig over den, Formørkelser skræmme den!
5Let darkness and death-shade redeem it, Let a cloud tabernacle upon it, Let them terrify it as the most bitter of days.
6Mørket tage den Nat, den høre ej hjemme blandt Årets Dage, den komme ikke i Måneders Tal!
6That night — let thick darkness take it, Let it not be united to days of the year, Into the number of months let it not come.
7Ja, denne Nat vorde gold, der lyde ej Jubel i den!
7Lo! that night — let it be gloomy, Let no singing come into it.
8De, der besværger Dage, forbande den, de, der har lært at hidse Livjatan";
8Let the cursers of day mark it, Who are ready to wake up Leviathan.
9dens Morgenstjerner formørkes, den bie forgæves på Lys, den skue ej Morgenrødens Øjenlåg,
9Let the stars of its twilight be dark, Let it wait for light, and there is none, And let it not look on the eyelids of the dawn.
10fordi den ej lukked mig Moderlivets Døre og skjulte Kvide for mit Blik!
10Because it hath not shut the doors Of the womb that was mine! And hide misery from mine eyes.
11Hvi døde jeg ikke i Moders Liv eller udånded straks fra Moders Skød?
11Why from the womb do I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp!
12Hvorfor var der Knæ til at tage imod mig, hvorfor var der Bryster at die?
12Wherefore have knees been before me? And what [are] breasts, that I suck?
13Så havde jeg nu ligget og hvilet, så havde jeg slumret i Fred
13For now, I have lain down, and am quiet, I have slept — then there is rest to me,
14blandt Konger og Jordens Styrere, der bygged sig Gravpaladser,
14With kings and counsellors of earth, These building wastes for themselves.
15blandt Fyrster, rige på Guld, som fyldte deres Huse med Sølv.
15Or with princes — they have gold, They are filling their houses [with] silver.
16Eller var jeg dog som et nedgravet Foster. som Børn, der ikke fik Lyset at se!
16(Or as a hidden abortion I am not, As infants — they have not seen light.)
17Der larmer de gudløse ikke mer, der hviler de trætte ud,
17There the wicked have ceased troubling, And there rest do the wearied in power.
18alle de fangne har Ro, de hører ej Fogedens Røst;
18Together prisoners have been at ease, They have not heard the voice of an exactor,
19små og store er lige der og Trællen fri for sin Herre.
19Small and great [are] there the same. And a servant [is] free from his lord.
20Hvi giver Gud de lidende Lys, de bittert sørgende Liv,
20Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?
21dem, som bier forgæves på Døden, graver derefter som efter Skatte,
21Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.
22som glæder sig til en Stenhøj, jubler, når de finder deres Grav
22Who are glad — unto joy, They rejoice when they find a grave.
23en Mand, hvis Vej er skjult, hvem Gud har stænget inde?
23To a man whose way hath been hidden, And whom God doth shut up?
24Thi Suk er blevet mit daglige Brød, mine Ve råb strømmer som Vand.
24For before my food, my sighing cometh, And poured out as waters [are] my roarings.
25Thi hvad jeg gruer for, rammer mig, hvad jeg bæver for, kommer over mig.
25For a fear I feared and it meeteth me, And what I was afraid of doth come to me.
26Knap har jeg Fred, og knap har jeg Ro, knap har jeg Hvile, så kommer Uro!
26I was not safe — nor was I quiet — Nor was I at rest — and trouble cometh!