1Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
1And Job answereth and saith: —
2"Gid man vejed min Harme og vejed min Ulykke mod den!
2O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3Thi tungere er den end Havets Sand, derfor talte jeg over mig!
3For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
4Thi i mig sidder den Almægtiges Pile, min Ånd inddrikker deres Gift; Rædsler fra Gud forvirrer mig.
4For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5Skriger et Vildæsel midt i Græsset, brøler en Okse ved sit Foder?
5Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
6Spiser man ferskt uden Salt, smager mon Æggehvide godt?
6Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7Min Sjæl vil ej røre derved, de Ting er som Lugt af en Løve.
7My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8Ak, blev mit Ønske dog opfyldt, Gud give mig det, som jeg håber
8O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9vilde d dog knuse mig, række Hånden ud og skære mig fra,
9That God would please — and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10så vilde det være min Trøst - jeg hopped af Glæde trods skånselsløs Kval at jeg ikke har nægtet den Helliges Ord.
10And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain — He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11Hvad er min Kraft, at jeg skal holde ud, min Udgang, at jeg skal være tålmodig?
11What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
12Er da min Kraft som Stenens, er da mit Legeme Kobber?
12Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
13Ak, for mig er der ingen Hjælp, hver Udvej lukker sig for mig.
13Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
14Den, der nægter sin Næste Godhed, han bryder med den Almægtiges Frygt.
14To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
15Mine Brødre sveg mig som en Bæk, som Strømme, hvis Vand svandt bort,
15My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16de, der var grumset af os, og som Sneen gemte sig i,
16That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
17men som svandt ved Solens Glød, tørredes sporløst ud i Hede;
17By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18Karavaner bøjer af fra Vejen, drager op i Ørkenen og går til Grunde;
18Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19Temas Karavaner spejder, Sabas Rejsetog håber på dem,
19Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
20men de beskæmmes i deres Tillid, de kommer derhen og skuffes!
20They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
21Ja, slige Strømme er I mig nu, Rædselen så I og grebes af Skræk!
21Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
22Har jeg mon sagt: "Giv mig Gaver, løs mig med eders Velstand,
22Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23red mig af Fjendens Hånd, køb mig fri fra Voldsmænds Hånd!"
23And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
24Lær mig, så vil jeg tie, vis mig, hvor jeg har fejlet!
24Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25Redelig Tale, se, den gør Indtryk; men eders Revselse, hvad er den værd?
25How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
26Er det jer Hensigt at revse Ord? Den fortvivledes Ord er dog Mundsvejr!
26For reproof — do you reckon words? And for wind — sayings of the desperate.
27Selv om en faderløs kasted I Lod og købslog om eders Ven.
27Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
28Men vilde I nu dog se på mig! Mon jeg lyver jer op i Ansigtet?
28And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
29Vend jer hid, lad der ikke ske Uret, vend jer, thi end har jeg Ret!
29Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again — my righteousness [is] in it.
30Er der Uret på min Tunge, eller skelner min Gane ej, hvad der er ondt?
30Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?