Jó 6
Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Thi tungere er den end Havets Sand, derfor talte jeg over mig!
Thi i mig sidder den Almægtiges Pile, min Ånd inddrikker deres Gift; Rædsler fra Gud forvirrer mig.
Skriger et Vildæsel midt i Græsset, brøler en Okse ved sit Foder?
Spiser man ferskt uden Salt, smager mon Æggehvide godt?
Min Sjæl vil ej røre derved, de Ting er som Lugt af en Løve.
Ak, blev mit Ønske dog opfyldt, Gud give mig det, som jeg håber
vilde d dog knuse mig, række Hånden ud og skære mig fra,
så vilde det være min Trøst - jeg hopped af Glæde trods skånselsløs Kval at jeg ikke har nægtet den Helliges Ord.
Hvad er min Kraft, at jeg skal holde ud, min Udgang, at jeg skal være tålmodig?
Er da min Kraft som Stenens, er da mit Legeme Kobber?
Ak, for mig er der ingen Hjælp, hver Udvej lukker sig for mig.
Den, der nægter sin Næste Godhed, han bryder med den Almægtiges Frygt.
Mine Brødre sveg mig som en Bæk, som Strømme, hvis Vand svandt bort,
de, der var grumset af os, og som Sneen gemte sig i,
men som svandt ved Solens Glød, tørredes sporløst ud i Hede;
Karavaner bøjer af fra Vejen, drager op i Ørkenen og går til Grunde;
Temas Karavaner spejder, Sabas Rejsetog håber på dem,
men de beskæmmes i deres Tillid, de kommer derhen og skuffes!
Ja, slige Strømme er I mig nu, Rædselen så I og grebes af Skræk!
Lær mig, så vil jeg tie, vis mig, hvor jeg har fejlet!
Redelig Tale, se, den gør Indtryk; men eders Revselse, hvad er den værd?
Er det jer Hensigt at revse Ord? Den fortvivledes Ord er dog Mundsvejr!
Selv om en faderløs kasted I Lod og købslog om eders Ven.
Men vilde I nu dog se på mig! Mon jeg lyver jer op i Ansigtet?
Vend jer hid, lad der ikke ske Uret, vend jer, thi end har jeg Ret!
Er der Uret på min Tunge, eller skelner min Gane ej, hvad der er ondt?
But Job answered and said,
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! {laid: Heb. lifted up}
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. {my words...: that is, I want words to express my grief}
For the arrows of the Almighty {are} within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? {when he...: Heb. at grass?}
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there {any} taste in the white of an egg?
The things {that} my soul refused to touch {are} as my sorrowful meat.
Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant {me} the thing that I long for! {the thing...: Heb. my expectation}
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
What {is} my strength, that I should hope? and what {is} mine end, that I should prolong my life?
{Is} my strength the strength of stones? or {is} my flesh of brass? {of brass: Heb. brasen?}
{Is} not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
To him that is afflicted pity {should be shewed} from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. {is afflicted: Heb. melteth}
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, {and} as the stream of brooks they pass away;
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, {and} wherein the snow is hid:
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. {vanish: Heb. are cut off} {when...: Heb. in the heat thereof} {consumed: Heb. extinguished}
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
For now ye are nothing; ye see {my} casting down, and are afraid. {ye are...: or, ye are like to them: Heb. to it} {nothing: Heb. not}
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, {which are} as wind?
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig {a pit} for your friend. {ye overwhelm: Heb. ye cause to fall upon}
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for {it is} evident unto you if I lie. {evident...: Heb. before your face}
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness {is} in it. {in it: that is, in this matter}
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? {my taste: Heb. my palate}