1Then Job answered and said, 2How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? 3These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.19.3 make…: or, harden yourselves against me 4And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself. 5If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach: 6Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net. 7Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.19.7 wrong: or, violence
8He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. 9He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head. 10He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree. 11He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. 12His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle. 13He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 14My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. 16I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. 17My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.19.17 mine…: Heb. my belly 18Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.19.18 young…: or, the wicked 19All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.19.19 my…: Heb. the men of my secret 20My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.19.20 and to: or, as to 21Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me. 22Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?
23Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!19.23 Oh…: Heb. Who will give, etc 24That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever! 25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:19.26 And…: or, After I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.19.27 another: Heb. a stranger19.27 though…: or, my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire (for that day)19.27 within…: Heb. in my bosom 28But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?19.28 seeing…: or, and what root of matter is found in me? 29Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.
Jobs sjette tale: Et svar til Bildad
1Job gav følgende svar:
2„Hvor længe bliver I ved med at håne mig?
Hvor længe vil I plage mig med jeres fornærmelser?
3I anklager mig nu for tiende gang,
mishandler mig uden barmhjertighed.
4Hvis jeg har gjort noget forkert,
så er det mit problem og ikke jeres.
5I mener, at I er bedre end mig,
og at mine lidelser er straf for min synd.
6Forstår I ikke, at Gud gør mig uret
ved at sende disse ulykker over mig?
7Jeg råber om hjælp, men får intet svar.
Jeg skriger højt, men ingen griber ind.
8Gud har spærret vejen for mig,
han har indhyllet mit liv i mørke.
9Han har berøvet mig min ære,
ødelagt mit gode omdømme.
10Han angreb mig fra alle sider, så jeg faldt.
Han har taget ethvert håb fra mig.
11Hans vrede blussede op imod mig,
han behandlede mig som en fjende.
12Han sender en hær af ulykker imod mig,
de omringer mit hus og falder over mig.
13Mine slægtninge har slået hånden af mig,
mine bekendte vil ikke kendes ved mig.
14Min familie har vendt mig ryggen,
mine nærmeste venner ignorerer mig.
15Mine gæster ser på mig som en fremmed,
mine tjenestepiger gør intet for mig.
16Min tjener kommer ikke, når jeg kalder,
ikke engang når jeg trygler ham om hjælp.
17Min kone føler afsky ved min ånde,
mine brødre kan ikke udholde stanken.
18Selv børnene regner mig ikke for noget.
Når jeg rejser mig op, håner de mig.
19Mine bedste venner viser mig afsky,
de, jeg holder mest af, har vendt mig ryggen.
20Jeg er ikke andet end skind og ben,
med nød og næppe undgik jeg døden.
21Vis dog lidt barmhjertighed, venner!
Hav medlidenhed, for Guds vrede har ramt mig.
22Hvorfor vil I straffe mig, som Gud gør?
Har jeg ikke lidt tilstrækkeligt allerede?
23Ak, gid mine ord blev skrevet ned,
gid nogen ville optegne dem i en bog.
24Gid nogen ville mejsle dem i sten,
indridse dem i en klippe for evigt.
25Men jeg ved, at der er en, som vil befri mig,
engang skal han stå frem på jorden.
26Jeg ved, at selv om min krop går til grunde,
får jeg mulighed for bagefter at se Gud.
27Jeg skal se ham med mine egne øjne.
Jeg kan næsten ikke rumme den tanke.
28Hvor vover I da at anklage mig
og påstå, at min lidelse er en velfortjent straf?
29Pas på, at I ikke selv bliver straffet,
bliver ramt af Guds vrede og dom.”
