¹Then Job answered,

¹Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:

²“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

²"Gid man vejed min Harme og vejed min Ulykke mod den!

³For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

³Thi tungere er den end Havets Sand, derfor talte jeg over mig!

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

⁴Thi i mig sidder den Almægtiges Pile, min Ånd inddrikker deres Gift; Rædsler fra Gud forvirrer mig.

⁵Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

⁵Skriger et Vildæsel midt i Græsset, brøler en Okse ved sit Foder?

⁶Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁶Spiser man ferskt uden Salt, smager mon Æggehvide godt?

⁷My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.

⁷Min Sjæl vil ej røre derved, de Ting er som Lugt af en Løve.

⁸“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

⁸Ak, blev mit Ønske dog opfyldt, Gud give mig det, som jeg håber

⁹even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

⁹vilde d dog knuse mig, række Hånden ud og skære mig fra,

¹⁰Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹⁰så vilde det være min Trøst - jeg hopped af Glæde trods skånselsløs Kval at jeg ikke har nægtet den Helliges Ord.

¹¹What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

¹¹Hvad er min Kraft, at jeg skal holde ud, min Udgang, at jeg skal være tålmodig?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

¹²Er da min Kraft som Stenens, er da mit Legeme Kobber?

¹³Isn’t it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

¹³Ak, for mig er der ingen Hjælp, hver Udvej lukker sig for mig.

¹⁴“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁴Den, der nægter sin Næste Godhed, han bryder med den Almægtiges Frygt.

¹⁵My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

¹⁵Mine Brødre sveg mig som en Bæk, som Strømme, hvis Vand svandt bort,

¹⁶Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

¹⁶de, der var grumset af os, og som Sneen gemte sig i,

¹⁷In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁷men som svandt ved Solens Glød, tørredes sporløst ud i Hede;

¹⁸The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

¹⁸Karavaner bøjer af fra Vejen, drager op i Ørkenen og går til Grunde;

¹⁹The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

¹⁹Temas Karavaner spejder, Sabas Rejsetog håber på dem,

²⁰They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

²⁰men de beskæmmes i deres Tillid, de kommer derhen og skuffes!

²¹For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

²¹Ja, slige Strømme er I mig nu, Rædselen så I og grebes af Skræk!

²²Did I say, ‘Give to me?’ or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’

²²Har jeg mon sagt: "Giv mig Gaver, løs mig med eders Velstand,

²³or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’ or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’

²³red mig af Fjendens Hånd, køb mig fri fra Voldsmænds Hånd!"

²⁴“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁴Lær mig, så vil jeg tie, vis mig, hvor jeg har fejlet!

²⁵How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

²⁵Redelig Tale, se, den gør Indtryk; men eders Revselse, hvad er den værd?

²⁶Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

²⁶Er det jer Hensigt at revse Ord? Den fortvivledes Ord er dog Mundsvejr!

²⁷Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

²⁷Selv om en faderløs kasted I Lod og købslog om eders Ven.

²⁸Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

²⁸Men vilde I nu dog se på mig! Mon jeg lyver jer op i Ansigtet?

²⁹Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

²⁹Vend jer hid, lad der ikke ske Uret, vend jer, thi end har jeg Ret!

³⁰Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

³⁰Er der Uret på min Tunge, eller skelner min Gane ej, hvad der er ondt?