1I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 4Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.31.6 Let…: Heb. Let him weigh me in balances of justice 7If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; 8Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.
9If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; 10Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. 11For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. 12For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?31.15 did not one…: or, did he not fashion us in one womb?
16If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; 17Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; 18(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;)31.18 her: that is, the widow 19If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; 20If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 21If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: 22Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.31.22 bone: or, chanelbone 23For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
24If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; 25If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;31.25 gotten…: Heb. found much 26If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;31.26 sun: Heb. light31.26 in…: Heb. bright 27And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:31.27 my mouth…: Heb. my hand hath kissed my mouth 28This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. 29If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.31.30 mouth: Heb. palate 31If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 32The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.31.32 traveller: or, way
33If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:31.33 as Adam: or, after the manner of men 34Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? 35Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.31.35 my…: or, my sign is that the Almighty will 36Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. 37I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. 38If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;31.38 complain: Heb. weep 39If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:31.39 fruits: Heb. strength31.39 the owners…: Heb. the soul of the owners thereof to expire, or, breathe out 40Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.31.40 cockle: or, noisome weeds
Job bedyrer igen sin uskyld
1Jeg lavede en aftale med mine øjne,
at de aldrig måtte se med begær på en kvinde.
2Hvad ville Gud sige, hvis jeg gjorde det?
Ville den Almægtige ikke straffe mig?
3Onde mennesker kan forvente at blive straffet,
syndere må regne med at ende i ulykke.
4Gud ser jo alt, hvad jeg gør,
holder øje med hvert skridt, jeg tager.
5Har jeg nogen sinde sagt et usandt ord?
Har jeg bedraget et andet menneske?
6Jeg vil gerne have Gud til at afsige dommen,
for han ved, at jeg er uskyldig.
7Hvis jeg har handlet imod Guds vilje,
hvis mit hjerte har begæret, hvad mit øje så,
eller hvis mine hænder har begået en udåd,
8så lad en anden få lov at høste, hvad jeg har sået,
så er det i orden, hvis alt bliver taget fra mig.
9Hvis jeg har ladet mig bedåre af en andens kone,
hvis jeg har stået og luret ved min nabos dør,
10så er det i orden, at min kone forlader mig,
og at en anden mand tager hende i favn.
11For begær er en skændig og skamløs synd,
en forbrydelse, der fortjener at blive straffet.
12Begær er som en fortærende ild,
der opbrænder hele ens livsværk.
13Hvis jeg havde behandlet mine tjenere uretfærdigt,
når de klagede til mig over noget,
14så havde Gud ret til at kræve mig til regnskab.
Jeg ville ikke have noget at sige til mit forsvar.
15For Gud skabte mine tjenere såvel som mig,
han skabte os alle på samme måde.
16Har jeg nægtet de fattige hjælp
eller taget håbet fra de sørgende enker?
17Har jeg siddet og nydt min gode mad
og nægtet at dele med de forældreløse?
18Nej, jeg har altid taget mig kærligt af dem,
som var jeg deres egen far eller mor.
19Har jeg set en stakkel mangle tøj,
en fattig, som savnede et tæppe?
20Nej, de takkede mig for det tøj, jeg gav dem,
for de fåreskind, de fik at varme sig med.
21Hvis jeg har stemt for en dom imod den svage,
fordi der var flertal for det i retten,
22så gid min arm blev brækket af
og min skulder vredet af led.
23Jeg har altid frygtet den hellige Guds dom
og straffen fra hans umådelige magt.
24Har jeg måske sat min lid til mit guld
og stolet på min rigdom i stedet for på Gud?
25Har jeg bygget min glæde på min velstand
i stedet for at bygge på Guds omsorg?
26Har jeg kigget på det strålende sollys
og den fortryllende månes glans,
27så jeg begyndte at tilbede naturen
i stedet for at tilbede Gud?
28Så ville jeg dermed have fornægtet Gud,
og den slags synder skal straffes hårdt.
29Er jeg nogensinde brudt ud i jubel,
når mine fjender blev ramt af ulykker?
30Nej, jeg har aldrig forbandet mine fjender,
for det ville være syndigt og ondt.
31Har mine tjenestefolk nogensinde sagt,
at jeg nægtede den sultne mad?
32Nej, for jeg har aldrig vist en fremmed bort,
men været gæstfri mod alle og enhver.
33Har jeg nogensinde forsøgt at dække over en synd
eller gået rundt med en dårlig samvittighed,
34fordi jeg var bange for, hvad folk ville sige,
og ikke kunne udholde tanken om deres dom?
35Jeg ville ønske min sag kom for retten,
så den Almægtige kunne afsige sin dom.31,35 Versene 36-37 er flyttet ned for sammenhængens skyld.
38Har jeg nogensinde forbrudt mig mod jorden,
så markerne anklagede mig, og plovfurerne græd?
39Har jeg nogensinde nydt jordens afgrøde uden at betale,
så de, der havde dyrket jorden, måtte dø af sult?
40Lad min mark give tidsler i stedet for hvede
og ukrudt i stedet for byg, hvis jeg har handlet sådan.
Nu har jeg afsluttet mit forsvar,
men jeg ville ønske, jeg kendte anklagen.
