¹Then Job answered,

¹Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:

²“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

²"Nok har jeg hørt af sligt, besværlige Trøstere er I til Hobe!

³Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

³Får Mundsvejret aldrig Ende? Hvad ægged dig dog til at svare?

⁴I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

⁴Også jeg kunde tale som I, hvis I kun var i mit Sted, føje mine Ord imod jer og ryste på Hovedet ad jer,

⁵but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

⁵styrke jer med min Mund, ej spare på ynksomme Ord!

⁶“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

⁶Taler jeg, mildnes min Smerte ikke og om jeg tier, hvad Lindring får jeg?

⁷But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.

⁷Dog nu har han udtømt min Kraft, du bar ødelagt hele min Kreds;

⁸You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

⁸at du greb mig, gælder som Vidnesbyrd mod mig, min Magerhed vidner imod mig.

⁹He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

⁹Hans Vrede river og slider i mig, han skærer Tænder imod mig. Fjenderne hvæsser Blikket imod mig,

¹⁰They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

¹⁰de opspiler Gabet imod mig, slår mig med Hån på Kind og flokkes til Hobe omkring mig;

¹¹God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

¹¹Gud gav mig hen i Niddingers Vold, i gudløses Hænder kasted han mig.

¹²I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

¹²Jeg leved i Fred, så knuste han mig, han greb mig i Nakken og sønderslog mig; han stilled mig op som Skive,

¹³His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.

¹³hans Pile flyver omkring mig, han borer i Nyrerne uden Skånsel, udgyder min Galde på Jorden;

¹⁴He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.

¹⁴Revne på Revne slår han mig, stormer som Kriger imod mig.

¹⁵I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

¹⁵Over min Hud har jeg syet Sæk og boret mit Horn i Støvel;

¹⁶My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.

¹⁶mit Ansigt er rødt af Gråd, mine Øjenlåg hyllet i Mørke,

¹⁷Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

¹⁷skønt der ikke er Vold i min Hånd, og skønt min Bøn er ren!

¹⁸“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

¹⁸Dølg ikke, Jord, mit Blod, mit Skrig komme ikke til Hvile!

¹⁹Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

¹⁹Alt nu er mit Vidne i Himlen, min Talsmand er i det høje;

²⁰My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

²⁰gid min Ven lod sig finde! Mit Øje vender sig med Tårer til Gud,

²¹that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

²¹at han skifter Ret mellem Manden og Gud, mellem Mennesket og hans Ven!

²²For when a few years have come, I shall go the way of no return.

²²Thi talte er de kommende År, jeg skal ud på en Færd, jeg ej vender hjem fra.